Table 3.
Comparisons of clinical characteristics at the time of brain MRI for clinical suspicion of cerebral infarction and outcomes between non-infarction group, determined stroke etiology group, and cryptogenic stroke etiology group
| Non-infarction group (n = 45) | Determined etiology group (n = 16) | Cryptogenic etiology group (n = 27) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 63.0 (41.0–69.0)a | 67.5 (58.0–69.5)a | 64 (58.5–69.0)a | 0.278 |
| Gender, male | 25 (56) | 12 (75) | 14 (52) | 0.297 |
| Type of malignancy | ||||
| Solid tumor | 17 (38) | 4 (25) | 12 (44) | 0.444 |
| Hematologic | 28 (62) | 12 (75) | 15 (56) | |
| Recent chemotherapy | 22 (49) | 9 (56) | 13 (48) | 0.857 |
| Vascular risk factors | ||||
| Hypertension | 18 (40) | 5 (31) | 12 (44) | 0.693 |
| Past and current smoking | 17 (38) | 6 (38) | 8 (30) | 0.765 |
| Ischemic heart disease | 1 (2) | 1 (6) | 1 (4) | 0.744 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 3 (7) | 1 (4) | 3 (7) | 0.866 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 11 (24) | 5 (31) | 3 (11) | 0.241 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 9 (20) | 3 (19) | 8 (30) | 0.586 |
| Alcohol abuse | 1 (2) | 2 (13) | 1 (4) | 0.230 |
| Thrombotic event | 3 (7) | 5 (31) | 5 (19) | 0.047 |
| Previous thrombotic eventb | n (7) | 3 (19) | 4 (15) | 0.338 |
| Concomitant pulmonary thromboembolism | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (7) | 0.099 |
| Concomitant deep vein thrombosis | 1 (2) | 4 (25) | 1 (4) | 0.006 |
| DWI pattern | 0.002 | |||
| Single arterial infarction | 7 (44) | 1 (4) | ||
| Multiple arterial infarction | 9 (56) | 26 (96) | ||
| Antiplatelet use | 1 (2) | 1 (6) | 1 (4) | 0.744 |
| Anticoagulant use | 10 (22) | 3 (19) | 7 (26) | 0.857 |
| DIC | 0 (0) | 1 (6) | 2 (7) | 0.193 |
| D-dimer (μg/mL) | 4.86 (2.30–8.53)c | 2.66 (2.29–3.75)c | 10.38 (3.92–21.21) | 0.001 |
| Fibrinogen | 323 (167–441)d | 322 (262–433)d | 358 (267–507)d | 0.707 |
| CRP | 4.79 (3.24–7.13)e | 11.66 (1.52–14.90)e,f | 15.48 (6.42–22.44)f | 0.036 |
| Procalcitonin | 1.05 (0.31–2.17)g | 2.05 (0.45–3.52)g | 0.80 (0.22–4.22)g | 0.560 |
| Outcomes | ||||
| ICU mortality | 13 (29) | 7 (44) | 12 (46) | 0.283 |
| In-hospital mortality | 29 (64) | 13 (81) | 21 (81) | 0.227 |
| Length of stay in ICU, days | 13.6 (6.7–21.8)h | 18.3 (8.7–36.5)h | 14.7 (9.2–19.2)h | 0.381 |
Data are expressed as medians (interquartile range) or frequencies (%)
Statistical significances of continuous variables were tested by the Kruskal-Wallis test among groups
The same letters indicate non-significant differences between groups base on the Mann-Whitney U test
DWI diffusion-weighted imaging, DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation, CRP C-reactive protein, ICU intensive care unit
bPrevious thrombotic events include ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism