Affiliations: Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine,
Rehabilitation Center De Hoogstraat Utrecht, The Netherlands | Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University
Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands | Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, The
Netherlands | Department of Radiology, University Medical Center,
Utrecht, The Netherlands | Department of Neurology, University Medical Center
Utrecht, The Netherlands
Note: [] Corresponding author: Sven Schiemanck, MD; Center of Excellence
for Rehabilitation Medicine, Rehabilitation Center De Hoogstraat, Rembrandtkade
10, 3583 TM Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 30 2561211; Fax: +31 30
2511344; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Purpose: Previous studies investigating relationships between stroke
lesion volume and outcome were restricted to short follow-up periods (3–6
months) and outcome measures of stroke severity and activities only, whereas
functional improvement has been found to extend far beyond six months.
Therefore, this study investigated relationships between infarct volume and a
broad range of outcomes of stroke survivors at a long follow-up period. Methods: Correlations between lesion volumes (determined by
conventional MRI scans in the second week post-stroke) and outcomes after one
year of 75 first-ever ischemic stroke survivors were investigated. Results: Moderate Spearman Rank correlation coefficients were found
between lesion volume and motor impairment (Motricity Index (MI): −0.43,
p < 0.01; Fugl Meyer Motor Assessment Scale (FM): −0.43; p < 0.01).
Correlation coefficients with activities of daily living were moderate but low
associated with Barthel Index (r_s = 0.30; p < 0.01),
modified Rankin Scale (r_s = 0.39; p < 0.01) and Frenchay
Activities Index (r_s = −0.35; p < 0.01). Lesion
volume had a significant but low association (r_s = 0.27; p
= 0.02) with patient's health status measured with Sickness Impact Profile 68
(SIP68)) and a moderate correlation with well-being assessed with Life
Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ; r_s = −0.45; p <
0.01). Found correlation coefficients were slightly stronger after correction
for mixed (cortical/subcortical) and purely subcortical lesion location. Conclusions: It can be concluded that infarct volume moderately
correlates with long-term motor impairment, functional outcome and quality of
life of patients surviving stroke.
Keywords: infarction, middle cerebral artery, lesion volume, magnetic resonance imaging, outcome, quality of life
