Abstract

Background:One of the major concerns of a stroke victim is the threatening possibility of loosing all the functional achievements attained through prolonged rehabilitation effort, in case of a recurrent cerebrovascular event. Recently, elevated serum homocysteine (Hcy) level was found to be associated with an increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the yield of screening stroke patients for hyperhomocysteinemia, as part of the measures taken to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence.Material/Methods:Blood Hcy levels of stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation were compared to the Hcy levels of patients admitted for rehabilitation following brain damage of non-vascular etiologies.Results:The mean Hcy level was found to be significantly higher in the former group (10.21±7.81 µmol/L and 6.16±4.28 µmol/L in the stroke group and in the non-vascular group, respectively [p

Keywords: Biological Markers - blood, Brain Damage, Chronic - blood, Cerebrovascular Accident - blood, Cerebrovascular Accident - rehabilitation, Functional Laterality, Homocysteine - blood, Recurrence