Predictors of stroke outcome: the role of hemorheology, natural anticoagulants, and serum albumin.

Background: The early hours after an acute stroke are crucial; early accurate prediction of outcome in stroke patients can help health system providers and families to choose appropriate lines of management and plan for the future. The aim of this work is to assess the role of hemorheological parameters (such as blood viscosity, hematocrit, platelet aggregation, and leukocyte count), protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, and serum albumin as predictors of stroke outcome.

Methods: Thirty subjects, 20 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 24 h from the onset and 10 normal subjects, were included in this case control study.