RESUMO
Introduction:: Stroke is a global health problem. Studies haveshown that serum albumin level is an independent predictor ofischemic stroke outcome. In the present study we comparedthe serum albumin and the volume of infarct with the clinicaloutcome.Material and methods: Fifty patients of age more than18 years with clinical and radiological evidence of acuteischemic stroke were included in the study. The severity ofstroke at admission was assessed by National Institute ofHealth stroke scale (NIHSS). Serum albumin levels weremeasured at admission within 36 hours after stroke onset.Functional outcome was measured 1 week post admissionand after 3 months during follow up using modified Rankinscale (mRs). A score of mRs >3 or death was taken as pooroutcome. Statistical analysis and interpretation of the data wasdone. P value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results: The mean age group of the study population was53 years, male patients had more severe stroke comparedto female patients. Most common risk factors were diabetesmellitus and systemic hypertension. Patients with a goodoutcome had lower NIHSS score, low mRS score, highalbumin and low volume of infarct. Those with worst outcomehad higher NIHSS, high mRS and high volume of infarct.Conclusion: Relatively high serum albumin level in acutestroke patients decreases the risk of poor outcome. It is notonly serum albumin but volume of infarct also does play a rolein the final outcome of the patient