Elevated total white blood cell count with high blood glucose is associated with poor outcome after ischemic stroke

Increases in total white blood cell (WBC) count and blood glucose level have each been associated with poor outcomes after ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an added effect of elevated total WBC count with glucose level on outcome after ischemic stroke. A total of 436 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke who were admitted to Suburban Hospital, Bethesda, MD, between June 2000 and December 2002 were included in this study. Nonfasting peripheral WBC count and glucose level were obtained on hospital arrival, along with self- and family member-reported risk factors for stroke and clinical parameters. WBC count and glucose level were dichotomized into 4 groups: increased WBC count with increased glucose level (IW;IG), increased WBC count with normal glucose level (IW;NG), normal WBC count with increased glucose level (NW;IG), and normal WBC count with normal glucose level (NW;NG). Poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score ≥ 2 at hospital discharge. On univariate analysis, patients with IW;IG (n = 53) had worse outcome (P < .001) than patients with NW;NG (n = 210) or elevations in either factor alone. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for stroke severity and other factors, the odds ratios of poor stroke outcomes were 20 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.3-125; P < .001) for the IW:IG group, 3.3 (95% CI = 1.1-14.3; P = .03) for the IW;NG group, and 2.5 (95% CI = 1.1-5.0; P = .03) for the NW;IG group, all compared with the NW:NG group. There may be an added effect of elevated WBC count with hyperglycemia on poor outcome after ischemic stroke. Strict control of inflammatory parameters and glucose may help improve outcome for patients with ischemic stroke.