The prognostic value of the acute-phase response in stroke recurrence

We measured the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 318 acute stroke patients receiving heparin to evaluate its predictor value on the risk of early recurrence (first two weeks). The cumulative risks of early recurrence were 2.93 +/- 1.85% for the low ESR group, and 9.77 +/- 3.25% for the high ESR group. With logistic regression the risk of early stroke recurrence was associated to the ESR group (OR 3.55, 95% IC 1.24-10.15), and a history of recent (<1 week) (OR 6.95, 95% IC 2.06-23.42), or remote TIA (OR 4.27, 95% IC 1.22-14.91). These results pointed to an inflammatory component in the pathogenesis of early recurrent stroke.