Thyroid Function in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is one of the major manifestations of cardiovascular diseases and a leading cause of long-term disability in older adults. Thyroid disfunction, as the most common endocrine disorder, may influence stroke risk and prognosis in multiple and complex ways. The aim of the study was to assess thyroid function in patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke. Thyroid hormone profile was evaluated in 50 consecutive patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke. A majority of patients had normal values of TSH, fT3 and fT4, but in 8 (16%) patients, the serum level of thyroid hormones was out of the reference range indicating the need for further assessment. Stroke, as an acute and often severe disease, requires multidisciplinary care and thyroid function assessment may be helpful in the overall plan of treatment.