281
Views
10
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Is stroke rehabilitation a metabolic problem?

, , , , , , , & show all
Pages 161-173 | Received 15 Mar 2013, Accepted 25 Oct 2013, Published online: 23 Jan 2014
 

Abstract

Background: This study looks at the impact of inflammation during the rehabilitation stage of strokes and its effect on neuro-functional recovery.

Methods: This study investigated 94 patients suffering from strokes and admitted to rehabilitation. Anthropometric characteristics, serum proteins and inflammatory markers, plasma amino acids and neurofunction were all assessed.

Results: 55.3% patients had an inflammatory status (Interleukin-6 = 19.24 ± 23.01 pg ml−1 vs. 4.1 ± 1.6 pg ml−1 for non-inflamed subjects (p < 0.001). Inflammation was positively linked to positive proteins (alpha-1 globulin, p < 0.02) and negatively linked to negative proteins (albumin, p < 0.02; prealbumin, p < 0.01; transferrin, p < 0.05) of the acute-phase response. Inflammation was associated with low plasma concentrations of total amino acids. For the multiple logistic regression analysis, albumin (p < 0.001) and body weight maintenance (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of patient functional independence. Inflammation in dysphagic stroke (31.9%) patients was associated with more accentuated disability compared to non-inflamed dysphagics. The serum positive reactant alpha 1 globulin was the most powerful predictor of dysphagia severity (p < 0.001). At discharge, dysphagia improvement was associated with improved acute-phase negative proteins.

Conclusions: An inflammatory status may persist for most patients with strokes during the rehabiliation stage of the disease, its prevalence being higher in dysphagic compared to non-dysphagic subjects. The improvement in circulating albumin and body weight maintenance are predictors of neuro-function, even in dysphagic subjects.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dott Robert Coates (Lecturer and medical writer, Centro Linguistico Bocconi University, Milano) for his linguistic revision.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 65.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 727.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable
 

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.