The size of subcortical ischemic infarction in patients with and without diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is associated with a higher frequency and poorer outcome of ischemic stroke. Determinants of the poorer prognosis of stroke in patients with diabetes are not well defined. We investigated whether size of cerebral infarction differs in patients with and without diabetes mellitus. We compared ischemic lesions in 41 consecutive stroke patients with subcortical infarction -22 with and 19 without diabetes mellitus. The location and size of the ischemic infarct were derived from magnetic resonance images obtained on day 3 or 4 post stroke onset. Cross-sectional infarct area was determined by direct measurement from film. The age of patients was similar in both groups. Patients with diabetes had higher prevalence of arterial hypertension, and previous stroke, and higher admission triglyceride and glucose levels compared to patients without diabetes. We found no significant difference in the size of ischemic lesions in patients with and without diabetes mellitus (1.87 vs. 1.72 cm², respectively). We conclude that among patients with subcortical ischemic stroke the size of infarction is not different between patients with and without diabetes mellitus.