ENDOGENOUS SEX-HORMONES IN WOMEN WITH ISCHEMIC STROKE

The aim of this case-control study was to test the hypothesis that wom en with ischemic stroke exhibit changes in their sex hormone concentra tions. Cases were 149 consecutive female patients with acute ischemic stroke. Fifty-one of these were examined after 6 months. Controls were 80 healthy women at the same age. Stroke severity was assessed on the Scandinavian Stroke Scale and infarct size by computed tomographic sc an. Mean serum 17 beta-estradiol was 76 +/- 5 pmol/l (SEM) in stroke p atients and 52 +/- 5 pmol/l in controls (p < 0.0001); the respective v alues of serum testosterone were 1.58 +/- 0.11 and 0.90 +/- 0.07 nmol/ l (p < 0.0001). In stroke patients, high levels of 17 beta-estradiol a nd testosterone were significantly associated with stroke severity and infarct size, as well as with 6-month mortality. In a subgroup of pat ients, serum 17 beta-estradiol was not significantly changed after 6 m onths, whereas serum testosterone significantly decreased and was simi lar to the level in the controls. We conclude that serum concentration s of 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone are associated with stroke sev erity and 6-month mortality. The present data do not address the quest ion of causality.