Table 1. Comparison of Potential Triggers of Poststroke Recrudescence Among 65 Patients.
| Potential Trigger | Recrudescence Episode | Control Episode | P Valuea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever, No. (%) | 7 (10.8) | 3 (4.6) | .06 |
| Infection, No. (%) | 34 (52.3) | 5 (7.7) | <.001 |
| WBC count, mean (SD) | 8800 (2928) | 7911 (3107) | .04 |
| WBC count >10 000 cells/mm3, No. (%) | 17 (26.2) | 10 (15.4) | .12 |
| Urinary tract infection, No. (%) | 20 (30.8) | 1 (1.5) | <.001 |
| Pneumonia, No. (%) | 14 (21.5) | 1 (1.5) | <.001 |
| Gastroenteritis, No. (%) | 5 (7.7) | 0 | .06 |
| Metabolic factors, No. (%) | 24 (36.9) | 6 (9.2) | <.001 |
| Glucose level, mean (SD), mg/dL | 139.4 (58.7) | 140.4 (58.1) | .49 |
| Hyperglycemia, No. (%) | 10 (15.4) | 4 (6.2) | .15 |
| Hypoglycemia, No. (%) | 3 (4.6) | 0 | .25 |
| Serum sodium level, mean (SD), mEq/L | 138.5 (3.3) | 139.0 (2.3) | .29 |
| Hypernatremia, No. (%) | 1 (1.5) | 0 | >.99 |
| Hyponatremia, No. (%) | 12 (18.5) | 2 (3.1) | .01 |
| Potassium level, mean (SD), mEq/L | 4.0 (0.5) | 4.1 (0.3) | .90 |
| Hyperkalemia, No. (%) | 3 (4.6) | 0 | .25 |
| Hypokalemia, No. (%) | 4 (6.2) | 0 | .12 |
| Serum urea nitrogen level, mean (SD), mg/dL | 20.4 (14.3) | 19.4 (11.4) | .27 |
| Creatinine level, mean (SD), mg/dL | 1.07 (1.04) | 1.16 (1.22) | .22 |
| Acute renal failure, No. (%) | 4 (6.2) | 0 | .12 |
| Hypertension, No. (%) | 5 (7.7) | 0 | .06 |
| Hypotension, No. (%) | 9 (13.8) | 2 (3.1) | .04 |
| Dehydration, No. (%) | 3 (4.6) | 1 (1.5) | .62 |
| Hematocrit, mean (SD) | 37.8 (4.5) | 37.2 (4.9) | .38 |
| Insomnia or stress, No. (%) | 5 (7.7) | 0 | .06 |
| Congestive heart failure, No. (%) | 9 (13.8) | 6 (9.2) | .37 |
| Alcohol intoxication, No. (%) | 3 (4.6) | 0 | .25 |
| Recent general anesthesia, No. (%) | 2 (3.1) | 0 | .50 |
| Admission medications, No. (%) | |||
| Antiplatelet agents | 48 (73.8) | 48 (73.8) | >.99 |
| Anticoagulants | 23 (35.4) | 26 (40.0) | >.99 |
| Statins | 48 (73.8) | 41 (63.1) | .09 |
| Antihypertensive agents | 47 (72.3) | 52 (80.0) | .12 |
| Oral antidiabetic agents | 16 (24.6) | 18 (27.7) | .70 |
| Insulin | 17 (26.2) | 19 (29.2) | .50 |
| Benzodiazepines | 18 (27.7) | 10 (15.4) | .02 |
| Opiates | 12 (18.5) | 11 (16.9) | >.99 |
| Serotonergic antidepressants | 23 (35.4) | 21 (32.3) | .82 |
| Other antidepressants | 10 (15.4) | 7 (10.8) | .45 |
| Thyroid replacement therapy | 9 (13.8) | 10 (15.4) | >.99 |
| Antiepileptic agents | 21 (32.3) | 22 (33.8) | >.99 |
Abbreviation: WBC, white blood cell.
SI conversion factors: To convert creatinine to micromoles per liter, multiply by 88.4; glucose to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0555; hematocrit to a proportion of 1, multiply by 0.01; serum urea nitrogen to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.357; and WBC count to white blood cell count to ×109 per liter, multiply by 0.001. Conversion of potassium and sodium levels to millimoles per liter is 1:1.
a
Paired t test or McNemar test used as appropriate.