Extracranial and transcranial doppler sonography alterations in diabetic and non-diabetic patients with thrombotic stroke

Diabetes is a major risk factor for stroke. Some studies have shown that difference between clinical signs and prognosis in diabetic patients with stroke compared to non-diabetic patients with stroke is due to difference in pattern of cerebral vascular involvement. This study was done to compare the findings of extracranial and transcranial doppler sonography in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with thrombotic stroke. This case - control study was done on 70 diabetic patients and 70 non-diabetic patients with thrombotic stroke. All patients were new cases. Extracranial and transcranial Doppler sonography was performed for all subjects. Basilar artery stenosis was significantly more frequent in diabetic cases in comparison with non-diabetic patients [P<0.05]. The prevalenc of posterior circulation stenosis in diabetic patients was significantly higher than non-diabetic patients [P<0.05]. In diabetic patients, stenosis in vertebrobasilar circulation was more frequent. Higher morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients may be due to vascular stenosis pattern

Prognostic value of QT interval prolongation in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Several studies have shown that during stroke changes occur in some paraclinic parameters which may have either prognostic or diagnostic value, including electrocardiographic changes. This study was done to evaluate the prognostic value of prolonged QT segment in patients with ischemic stroke. This descriptive study with an easy convenient sampling was carried out on 175 patients [73 male and 102 female] with acute ischemic stroke whome have been diagnosed by brain imaging [computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging]. All patients were suffering from stroke for the first time and if they use any drug or have underlying disease except diabetes mellitus- hypertension- heart disease and hyperlipidemia were excluded. In the first 24 hours of admission, an electrocardiogram [ECG] were taken for measurement of QT segment and according to death or discharge, patients were divided into two groups, and the mean of QT segment [corrected QT] subsequently were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15, Chi-Square and independent t-tests. Twenty patients died in the course of admission. The mean of QT segment [corrected QT] in dead patients was 471.15 +/- 61.70 and in discharged patients was 421.52 +/- 62.96 [P<0.05]. The abundance of prolonged QT segment accompanied with death was more frequent. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and heart disease were significantly correlated with morbidity and mortality [P<0.05]. There is no relation between mortality with age and sex. This study showed that mean of QT segment [corrected] and also cases of prolonged QT segment were abundant among dead patients, therefore prolongation of QT segment has prognostic value in patients with ischemic stroke