Accuracy of clinical scores in differentiating stroke subtypes in Mosul

Abstract EN

Objectives : to study the validity of clinical scores in differentiating intracerebral hemorrhage and ischemic stroke and to see which of them is more applicable in our hospitals.

Methods : A prospective study of 100 consecutive patients with acute neurological deficit admitted as inpatient to the neurological unit in Ibn-Sina Teaching Hospital in the city of Mosul, evaluated with computed tomography and Allen and Syria scores to determine the pathological type of stroke during the period from September 15th 2008 and January 28th 2009.

Results : the prevalence of hemorrhage (diagnosed with computed tomography) was 19 %.

Allen scores were "uncertain" in 13 cases and Syria scores in 17 cases; Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, for hemorrhage were 0.53, 0.96, 0.77 and 0.90, for Allen scores and 0.79.

0.97., 0.88, and 0.95 for Syria scores ; such values for infarction were 0.91, 0.89, 0.97, and 0.71 for Allen scores and 0.80, 0.95, 0.98 and 0.53 for Syria scores.

Conclusion : when CT-Scan is not immediately available and the clinician wishes to start antithrombotic treatment, the Syria score (and possibly the Allen score) can be useful to identify patients at low risk of intracerebral hemorrhage and The Syria score is simple, cheap, reliable and practical method which can be used immediately after the stroke.