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A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: September 16, 2017
Changes in QT dispersion after thrombolysis for stroke.
Jason Lazar1, David Busch, Elizabeth Wirkowski
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203-2098, USA. jason.lazar@downstate.edu
International Journal of Cardiology
|May 19, 2007
Summary
Changes in QT dispersion (QTD) correlate with neurological function recovery in acute ischemic stroke patients receiving thrombolytic therapy. Increased QTD predicts poorer outcomes and mortality, highlighting its role in stroke prognostication.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- QT dispersion (QTD) quantifies myocardial repolarization heterogeneity, influenced by the central nervous system.
- Elevated QTD is observed in acute stroke and predicts functional outcomes and mortality.
- This study investigates the relationship between QTD changes and neurological function in ischemic stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if changes in QT dispersion (QTD) in patients with ischemic stroke parallel alterations in their neurological function.
- To assess the prognostic value of QTD changes in relation to stroke severity and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 30 ischemic stroke patients treated with thrombolysis.
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were used to calculate QTD on admission and at last follow-up (median 3 days).
- Neurological status was assessed using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS); changes in QTD (DeltaQTD) and NIHSS (DeltaNIHSS) were calculated.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in DeltaQTD was observed in patients who died compared to survivors (44+/-26 ms vs. -2+/-21 ms, p<.001).
- DeltaNIHSS showed a direct correlation with DeltaQTD (r=0.57, p<0.001) and DeltaQTDc (r=0.60, p<0.001).
- A 10 ms change in QTD corresponded to a 3.1 unit change in NIHSS score.
Conclusions:
- Changes in QT dispersion are significantly associated with evolving neurological function in acute ischemic stroke patients.
- DeltaQTD serves as a potential biomarker for predicting functional outcomes and mortality in stroke patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy.
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