Correlation of serum calcium levels with infarct size and severity of stroke using NIHSS score in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Background: Normal cerebral membrane integration is important to maintain the cellular calcium homeostasis. Recent studies have suggested that elevated serum calcium levels at presentation correlates well with the infarct size and severity of stroke.Methods: A total of 73 patients with acute ischemic stroke satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study from November 1st 2017 to April 30th 2019 at a tertiary care centre in Kolar, Karnataka. Serum calcium (total, ionized and albumin corrected calcium) levels were measured at the time of presentation and compared with the infarct size and severity of stroke using NIHSS score (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale).Results: The levels of total calcium, albumin-corrected calcium, and ionized calcium were 9.13±0.89 mg/dL (range: 8.24-10.02), 9.56±0.82 mg/dL (range: 8.74-10.38), and 4.79±0.47 mg/dL (range: 4.3-5.2), respectively. Mean stroke size as measured on the CT scan was 47.38±17.7 cm (range: 21-88). Analysis revealed significant negative correlation between calcium levels (total, corrected, and ionized) and infarct size and severity of stroke.Conclusions: In this study, it was found that there was a statistically significant negative correlation between total, ionized and corrected calcium with the infarct size in patients with ischemic stroke and also the total calcium at presentation and severity of stroke calculated using NIHSS score