Sulfonylurea drugs do not influence initial stroke severity and in-hospital outcome in stroke patients with diabetes

Background and Purpose-Sulfonylurea drugs inhibit ATP-dependent potassium c hannels and may increase mortality after myocardial infarction. Sulfonylure a drugs also inhibit ischemic preconditioning in experimental models of bra in ischemia and in clinical studies in the human heart. Methods-In the present study we examined the impact of sulfonylurea drugs o n in-hospital mortality and the immediate neurological deficit of diabetic stroke patients. From a larger stroke data bank, we studied 146 diabetic pa tients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke. Sixty patients were using su lfonylurea drugs. Results-Major baseline characteristics such as age, blood pressure, admissi on glucose level, HbA(1c) distribution of cardiovascular risk factors, and presumed stroke etiology (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment [TOA ST] criteria) were not different. Mortality (15% versus 14%; P = 0.86) and initial stroke severity (Canadian Neurological Scale score, 7.4 versus 7.5; P = 0.79) were not significantly different between patients with and witho ut sulfonylurea drugs. Further end points such as Rankin Scale score, deter iorating stroke, duration of hospital stay, type of infarcts on CT/MRI, req uirement of intensive care, and complications were not different. In a step wise logistic regression model, sulfonylurea drugs were not independent pre dictors for increased mortality, deteriorating stroke, or stroke severity. Conclusions-In the present hospital-based study, sulfonylurea drugs in pati ents with diabetes and stroke are not associated with increased stroke seve rity, mortality, or a worse in-hospital outcome.