To investigate the predictors of early neurological deterioration (END) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke and its impact on short-term outcomes.

From January 2017 to April 2019, patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were enrolled retrospectively. END was defined as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score within 7 days after admission increased by ≥2 compared with the baseline. The short-term outcomes were evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale at discharge. 0-2 was defined as good outcomes and 3-6 was defined as poor outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of END and their correlation with short-term outcomes.

A total of 199 patients with acute ischemic stroke received intravenous thrombolysis were enrolled. The median age was 68 years (interquartile range: 62-76 years), 69 were women (34.7%), and the baseline median NIHSS score was 6 (interquartile range: 3-12). END occurred in 35 patients (17.6%). Symptom progression occurred mainly 2 days after admission (31 patients, 88.6%). Most of the causes of END were ischemic progression or recurrence (28 patients, 80.0%). The univariate analysis showed that fasting blood glucose and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were associated with END (all P<0.05). However, multivariate logistic regression analysis did not find independent predictors of END. Excluding 12 patients with missing short-term outcome data, a total of 187 patients were included in the short-term outcome analysis. Among them, 110 patients had good outcomes and 77 had poor outcomes. Univariate analysis showed that ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, mild stroke, etiological classification, baseline NIHSS score, absolute lymphocyte count, fasting blood sugar, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, whether to receive interventional therapy, and END were correlated with short-term outcomes (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that high baseline NIHSS score (odds ratio 1.350, 95% confidence interval 1.182-1.541; P<0.001) and END (odds ratio 32.540, 95% confidence interval 6.149-172.21; P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for short-term poor outcomes.

END still occurs in some patients after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke, and END is an independent risk factor for short-term poor outcomes.

Stroke; Brain ischemia; Thrombolytic therapy; Disease progression; Treatment outcome; Risk factors; Time factor