Lack of association between serum uric acid levels and outcome in acute ischemic stroke

Background: The prognostic value of serum uric acid (UA) in acute ischemic stroke is controversial. The aim of this study is to further analyse the relation between UA and outcome after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We analysed UA levels in blood samples collected within 6h of stroke onset from patients included in the placebo arm of the US and Canadian Lubeluzole Ischemic Stroke Study (LUB-INT-9). We compared mean serum UA levels in patients with and without early neurological improvement (≥ 4 versus <4 points improvement on NIHSS after 5 days) and in patients with good functional and poor functional outcome (mRS 0-2 versus mRS 3-6). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to adjust for possible confounders.

Results: UA levels of 226 patients were available for analysis. Mean serum UA levels were not significantly higher in patients with than without early neurological improvement (0.33 mmol/L versus 0.30 mmol/L, p=0.070). The difference between patients with good and patients with poor functional outcome was borderline statistically significant (0.34 mmol/L versus 0.31 mmol/L, p=0.050). After adjustment for confounders, higher serum UA levels were neither associated with early neurological improvement OR (1.30, 95% CI 0.98-1.73, p=0.069), nor with a good functional outcome (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.72-1.65, p=0.690).

Conclusion: We found no association between admission serum UA levels and both short- and long-term outcome in acute ischemic stroke.