ABSTRACT
Objective The predictive indexes which affect early neurological deterioration ( END) of patients with acute la-cunar stroke still remain unclear .The purpose of the article was to investigate the correlation between the location and numbers of cere -bral microbleeds (CMBs) and END in patients with first-onset lacunar stroke. Methods 217 patients with acute lacunar stroke hos-pitalized in Anhui Provincial Hospital within 24 hours after occurrence from Mar 2009 to May 2012 were prospectively enrolled .All pa-tients underwent susceptibility-weighted imaging MRI right after admission , followed by the investigation on the relationship of the loca-tion and numbers of CMBs and END . Results END occurred in 76 (35.0%) patients.Among these patients, there were 33 positive cases with CMBs (43.3%).There were no significant difference in END incidence between positive group and negative group (P=0.173).In the comparison of the numbers of CMBs foci , patients with more than 5 foci were more prone to END (P=0.005).Logistic regression analysis showed there was relation between CMBs foci numbers>5 and END (OR=3.14, 95% CI: 1.22 ~8.13), and there was no relation between CMBs foci numbers≤5 and END ( OR=1.12, 95%CI:0.53~2.37)as to CMBs negative patients.No signifi-cant relationship was found in CMBs location and END occurrence ( P>0.05). Conclusion The distribution of CMBs foci has nothing to do with early neurological fluctuation .However , more than 5 CMBs foci might be the independent prediction cause of END .