The Prediction of Clinical Outcome Using HbA1c in Acute Ischemic Stroke of the Deep Branch of Middle Cerebral Artery

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the association between glycemic control status and clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke limited to the deep branch of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). METHODS: We evaluated 65 subjects with first-ever ischemic stroke of the deep branches of the MCA, which was confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography. All subjects had blood hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measured at admission. They were classified into two groups according to the level of HbA1c (low <7.0% or high ≥7.0%). Neurological impairment and functional status were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K), and the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) at admission and discharge. Body mass index, serum glucose, homocysteine and cholesterol levels were also measured at admission. RESULTS: The two groups did not show any difference in the NIHSS, FIM, K-MBI, MMSE-K, and LOTCA scores at any time point. Body mass index and levels of blood homocysteine and cholesterol were not different between the two groups. The serum blood glucose level at admission was negatively correlated with all outcome measures. CONCLUSION: We found that HbA1c cannot be used for predication of clinical outcome in patients with ischemic stroke of the deep branch of the middle cerebral artery.