Clinical features and biological markers of lung cancer-associated stroke

Objective To identify the unique clinical features and biological markers of lung cancer-associated stroke. Methods We recruited 102 patients with lung cancer plus stroke, 102 with lung cancer, and 102 with stroke. Detailed information was analysed and compared among groups. Results The groups were age-matched. Patients with lung cancer plus stroke showed multiple lesions involving multiple cerebral artery territories on magnetic resonance imaging, compared with stroke-alone patients. These patients also had a poorer modified Rankin Scale score at 30 days, and high mortality (18.6%). Patients with lung cancer plus stroke had a higher incidence of metastasis, and higher blood levels of D-dimer, CA125 and CA199 compared with patients with lung cancer alone. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that levels of D-dimer, CA125 and CA199 were independently related to lung cancer-associated stroke. Conclusion Elevated plasma D-dimer, CA125 and CA199 may be independent risk factors for and biomarkers of lung cancer-associated stroke.