Complete Blood Count Parameters as Prognostic Factor of Stroke: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Hematology
• Public Health

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability globally.
• Accurate prognosis estimation is crucial for patient management and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the prognostic value of complete blood count (CBC) laboratory findings in stroke patients.
• To identify specific CBC parameters that can predict stroke outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, ProQuest) from 1988 to 2020.
• Keywords included "Stroke", "Red Cell Distribution Width", "Blood Cell Count", "Mean corpuscular hemoglobin", and "Mean Corpuscular Volume".
• Data synthesis was performed using content analysis.

Main Results:

• Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with increased risk of stroke, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality in stroke survivors.
• Hemoglobin and globulin levels can predict short-term mortality after acute ischemic stroke.
• Mean platelet volume and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) showed limited prognostic significance in ischemic stroke.

Conclusions:

• Complete blood count (CBC) parameters offer valuable prognostic information for stroke.
• CBC is a readily available and cost-effective tool for assessing stroke prognosis in clinical settings.