[Is a rise in haematocrit associated with a risk of cerebrovascular accident? A retrospective study of 150 subjects with previous CVA and 150 paired controls (author's transl)].

A retrospective study of the various factors associated with the risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was conducted in 150 patients (87 women and 63 men) who had had a CVA and 150 paired control subjects of the same sex and age. No difference was found between these groups in systolic and diastolic BP, nor in blood glucose and cholesterol levels. However, there was a highly significant increase in haematocrit in CVA patients as compared with controls. The mean figures were +5,69% in men (p less than 0.00005) and + 3.85% in women (p less than 0.00001). It must be noted that the haematocrit values in CVA patients, although increased, remained within the normal range. A rise in blood viscosity could be the mechanism through which the haematocrit contributes to the risk of CVA.