Background :Stroke, after cardiovascular disease and cancer, is the third cause of death in developed countries.Recent years have seen a large number of studies that investigatedthe association between various microbial agents causing chronicinfectious diseases and stroke.
Aim of the work:The aim of this work is to evaluate the relation between infection burden with helicobacter pylori, chlamydia pneumoni and cytomegalovirus and ischemic stroke through studying their effect on various risk factors.and stroke outcome.
Subjects and Methods:The study was done on 86 patients admitted to the Neurology department of Sohag university hospital, presented by stroke within the first 24 hours. Diagnosis of stroke was confirmed by CT scan. All Patients were subjected to detailed medical and neurological evaluation.,laboratory investigations (Serology testing for CMV. C.pneumonie and H.pylori ,CBC, RBS, lipogram , CRP, coagulation profile),ECG, Echocardiograghy and carotid Doppler.The participants were classified into two groups according to serology testinginto seropositive group and seronegative group.
Results:H. pylori seropositive group were older (63.25±15.3 vs. 58.78±11.8 years; p=0.010), and suffered more often from hypertension (36 % vs 31.4 %; p=0.06) and IHD (29.1% vs. 12.8% p=0.005).C.pneumoniaeseropositive group were moreoften hyperlipidemic (40.6% vs.12.7 p 0.06); and less often were previous CVS ( 7% vs 16.3% p=0.01).CMV seropositive group were older(62.8±15.04 vs. 59.00±12 years; p=0.054) also suffered more often from IHD (27,9% vs 14% p=0.005).All seropositive groups were significantly correlated with carotid atherosclerosis and large artery stroke and with significant correlation with inflammatory markers as(increased CRP and leucocytic count).
Conclusion:Our results suggest that infection burden is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke specifically large artery stroke.Our study revealed significant association of infection burden and atherosclerosis but causality couldn’t be proven.our study revealed significant effect of infection on outcome of ischemic stroke