Uric acid has neuroprotective properties in experimental and clinical studies of
neurodegenerative disease. It is, however, associated with increased risk of
stroke, yet, despite some inconsistent findings, increasing evidence suggests it may also be related to improved
stroke outcomes. We have determined whether there is an effect of plasma
uric acid on the short-term outcome of
stroke patients in a general hospital setting using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We also investigated the relationship of
uric acid with other clinical correlates. Plasma
uric acid was determined in 108
acute ischemic stroke patients and their mRS scores measured. Patients with a poor outcome (mRS > 2) had significantly lower
uric acid than those with a better outcome; this remained after correcting for the effect of sex on
uric acid concentrations. There was no significant association with other epidemiological factors or with cognitive function determined by Mini-Mental State Examination. An association between
uric acid and the cerebral circulation was also found in which lower
uric acid occurs with posterior artery involvement. These findings demonstrate in a naturalistic cohort of patients the association of
uric acid with short-term disability following
ischemic stroke. They also raise the question of whether
uric acid may influence the regional brain involvement in
stroke.