Introduction

• Stroke or cerebrovascular accident is defined as an abrupt onset of focal neurological deficit that is attributable to vascular cause.
• It accounts for 80% to 85% of all cerebrovascular disease.
• Stroke is the second leading cause of death.
• Atherosclerosis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of stroke and inflammation is central in the initiation, progression and complications of atherosclerosis by mediating every stage of atheroma development.
• High platelet counts may increase thrombocyte activation and aggravate the release of inflammatory mediators.
• In contrast, lymphocytes exert anti-inflammatory response in atherosclerosis development.
• The advantage of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is that it reflects the condition of both inflammation and thrombosis pathways and is more valuable than either platelet or lymphocyte counts alone.
• High PLR as an inflammatory marker has been correlated with the poor prognosis in various diseases like Myocardial infarction, critical limb ischemia, end-stage renal failure, pulmonary embolism and various malignancies including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, hepatobiliary carcinoma and other solid tumors.
• Hence present study was done to find out the role of PLR (Platelet to lymphocyte ratio) in patients of acute ischemic stroke and correlating with NIHSS for predicting the prognosis.

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Dr Deepa Lagishetti

GEMS Srikakulam