Leukoaraiosis and stroke outcome.

We studied the influence of leukoaraiosis on the prognosis of stroke for the first year after onset. Three hundred and seventy consecutive stroke subjects were observed for 1 year. Data were collected prospectively in a questionnaire constructed in accordance with the Stroke Data Bank and analyzed using SPSS. Leukoaraiosis was observed in 17.6% of subjects. Subjects with leukoaraiosis were older than subjects without leukoaraiosis. Cerebrovascular risk factors were similar in both groups. During the first 30 days, the fatality rate of both groups was similar. However, at 1 year, the fatality rate in subjects with leukoaraiosis was higher. Stroke Severity, Weakness Score, and the Barthel Modified Activities for Daily Living score did not differ between groups at 30 days or 1 year. At both 30 days and 1 year, the MMSE score was lower in subjects with leukoaraiosis. Leukoaraiosis did not predict stroke recurrence within 1 year. Leukoaraiosis in stroke patients is an adverse predictor of cognitive functioning at 30 days and at 1 year and is an adverse predictor of survival at 1 year.