Agent Orange (AO) is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used in the Vietnam War. Studies conducted thus far show a significant correlation between AO and the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. But there is little data on the association between AO and stroke, and limited studies have targeted patient groups exposed to AO.
Bohun medical center Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved the study. (ID: 341) We studied patients with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of onset in VHS medical center and 4 other general hospitals. Among them, 91 consecutive patients with previous exposure to AO were evaluated. For controlled group, 288 patients with no history of AO exposure were chosen.
There were 49 (44.0 %) DM patient with a higher frequency in the exposure group (93 (32.3 %) in control
The NIHSS of the exposure group on admission showed lower scores (median values, 2 and 4, respectively;
This study targeted patients who are Vietnam veteran. There is some difference in vascular risk factors and clinical manifestations suggest AO exposure has contributed to a certain extent to the stroke.