Serum uric acid as an independent predictor of recurrence in ischemic stroke patients

Background and Purpose: The relationship between uric acid and stroke recurrence is ambiguous. Some studies have explored this relationship in acute ischemic stroke but had different results. We evaluated the association of admission uric acid level with risk of stroke recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: We studied ischemic stroke patients presenting to our hospital with Magnetic Resonance Imaging-confirmed acute ischemic stroke. Blood samples were drawn within 24 h of admission for uric acid concentration. Information on age, prior hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and smoking status was collected. We assessed the relationship between uric acid level and stroke recurrence at 90 days after stroke onset.

Results: Two hundred patients were studied. Twenty-seven patients suffered from a recurrence event. Hyperuricemia was found in 48 (24%) patients. Mean serum uric acid level in patients with recurrence was 6.6±1.3 and in patients without recurrence was 5.2±1.5 mg/dl. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the independent relationship between higher uric acid level levels and recurrence was confirmed (odds ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-1.73; p=0.01).

Conclusion: Elevated uric acid concentration is significantly and independently associated with increased risk of stroke recurrence in ischemic stroke patients.