Correlation between hyperglycemia and cerebral infarct size in patients with stroke. A clinical and X-ray computed tomography study in 104 patients.

Infarct area size on CT scan in 104 patients with ischemic stroke was compared with blood glucose levels and with other biological parameters (arterial pressure, hematocrit, consciousness impairment, clinical picture) during the acute stage. Infarct size was also compared with the presence and severity of diabetes mellitus and other risk factors. Infarct size was significantly correlated with hyperglycemia in the acute stage (p = 0.0348), regardless of the presence of established diabetes. These findings support the hypothesis that hyperglycemia directly increases regional brain damage due to acute vascular insufficiency. Infarct size was also correlated with the presence of atrial fibrillation, consciousness impairment, severity of clinical picture and neurological outcome.