Pol Arch Intern Med. 2021 Feb 25. doi: 10.20452/pamw.15848. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most widespread chronic diseases in the world, whereas stroke is a leading cause of death and disability. There are numerous reports emphasizing the relationship between chronic inflammatory diseases and cardio-cerebro-vascular diseases (CCVDs).
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess whether sinus inflammatory changes can be a risk factor for stroke similar to other known risk factors such as arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation, arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus or smoking.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors of the study analysed the results of sinus computed tomography (CT) performed in 163 ischemic stroke patients (79 men), mean (SD) age 68.5 (12.7) years, qualified for mechanical thrombectomy. The control group consisted of 75 patients (31 men) with neurological diseases of non-vascular origin.
RESULTS: In the group of stroke patients, sinus inflammatory changes were found in 95 subjects (58.3%), with a frequency comparable to the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (77; 47.2%). CRS was statistically more frequent than diabetes mellitus (33; 20.2%, P < 0.001), self-reported nicotinism (18; 11.0%, P <0.001), less frequent than arterial hypertension and generalized arteriosclerosis (124; 76.1%, P < 0.001 and 116; 71.2%, P = 0.02, respectively). Sinus inflammatory changes of moderate or severe intensity were observed more frequently in the group of stroke patients than in the control group and they involved mainly the ethmoid sinuses.
CONCLUSION: Moderate to severe inflammatory changes indicating chronic rhinosinusitis are common in stroke patients, which suggests the role of local inflammation in inducing acute cerebral ischemia.
PMID:33629827 | DOI:10.20452/pamw.15848
