TITLE:
Serum Ferritin and D-Dimer as Possible Risk Factors in Ischaemic Stroke in Cancer Patients
AUTHORS:
Mohammed Abbas, Ahmed Hady, Mohamed Jawad, Mohamed Mofreh, Samer Salama, Wessam Mustafa
KEYWORDS:
Ischemic Stroke, Cancer, Non-Cancer, Risk Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.11 No.4,
November
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: Background: Ischemic stroke is frequently encountered in patients with malignant
disease. The pathophysiology of stroke in such cases differs from other
subjects with no malignant disease. This study was conducted to compare serum
levels of ferritin and d-dimer in cases with ischemic stroke in cancer versus
non-cancer patients. Patients and methods: The data of consecutive 264
patients presented with ischemic stroke, confirmed by clinical examination and
radiological investigations, were retrospectively reviewed. The included cases
were divided into two groups: Group A
(non-cancer with stroke, 210 cases) and Group B (cancer with stroke, 54 cases). The collected data included patient
demographics, systemic comorbidities, disease and tumor characteristics, in
addition to platelet count, serum ferritin and d-dimer. Results: Age, gender, and systemic
comorbidities were statistically comparable between the two groups.
Additionally, the etiology of stroke and its disability were not statistically
different between the two groups. However, the incidence of mortality
significantly increased in Group B (25.93% vs. 7.14% of Group A, p = 0.005). Both serum
ferritin and d-dimer
showed a significant increase in association with cancer (Group B). The former
had mean values of 294.54 and 867.87 ng/ml, while the latter had mean values of
463.83 and 888.13 ng/ml in the same two groups, respectively. Conclusion: Serum ferritin and d-dimer
showed a significant rise in cancer-associated ischemic stroke. This confirms
the role of the hypercoagulable state, associated with malignancy in the
development of this morbidity.