OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between the severity of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and coagulation parameters assessed using the dynamic thrombophotometry.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-five patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke (IS) with moderate neurological deficit at admission were included. All patients underwent a comprehensive clinical and instrumental assessment according to the current guidelines. On days 10—14, the cognitive status of patients was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Coagulation parameters were assessed using the dynamic thrombophotometry at admission, on 6—8^th days and 13—15^th days from the onset of the disease. A database of laboratory studies of 30 apparently healthy volunteers was used as a comparison group.

RESULTS

Data analysis revealed that a number of spatial and temporal parameters were within the reference values, and there were no significant changes over time. Nevertheless, though the optical density of the fibrin clot (D) was within the reference values, it showed a steady increase from the admission by the end of the 1^st week of the disease (p=0.007) and by 13—15^th days (p=0.009). Correlation and multivariate linear regression, including baseline stroke symptom severity, showed significant associations (p<0.01 in all tests) between the higher optical density of the fibrin clot (D) on days 6—8 and 13—15 and lower MoCA score, confirming the negative effect of altered hemostatic parameters on cognitive function in IS patients.

CONCLUSION

The increase of optical density of the fibrin clot (D) by 6—8^th and 13—15^th days is a potential prognostic biomarker for the early development of PSCI.