Although
hyperthermia is associated with poor outcomes in
ischaemic stroke (IS), some studies indicate that high body temperature may benefit reperfusion
therapies. We assessed the association of temperature with effective reperfusion (defined as a reduction of ≥8 points in the National Institute of Health
Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within the first 24 h) and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) > 2) in 875 retrospectively-included IS patients. We also studied the influence of temperature on thrombolytic (cellular
fibronectin (cFn);
matrix metalloproteinase 9 (
MMP-9)) and inflammatory
biomarkers (tumour
necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),
interleukin 6 (IL-6)) and their relationship with effective reperfusion. Our results showed that a higher temperature at 24 but not 6 h after
stroke was associated with failed reperfusion (OR: 0.373, p = 0.001), poor outcome (OR: 2.190, p = 0.005) and higher
IL-6 levels (OR: 0.958, p < 0.0001). Temperature at 6 h was associated with higher MMP-9 levels (R = 0.697; p < 0.0001) and effective reperfusion, although this last association disappeared after adjusting for confounding factors (OR: 1.178, p = 0.166). Our results suggest that body temperature > 37.5 °C at 24 h, but not at 6 h after
stroke, is correlated with reperfusion failure, poor clinical outcome, and
infarct size. Mild
hyperthermia (36.5-37.5 °C) in the first 6 h window might benefit drug reperfusion
therapies by promoting clot lysis.