Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background This review aims to comprehensively examine the role of bilirubin in predicting severity and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods We searched the electronic PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science repositories for articles published i...

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Main Authors: Ying Zhong, Lei Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Neurology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04168-7
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author Ying Zhong
Lei Li
author_facet Ying Zhong
Lei Li
author_sort Ying Zhong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This review aims to comprehensively examine the role of bilirubin in predicting severity and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods We searched the electronic PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science repositories for articles published in English available before the 15th of June 2024. The outcomes assessed were stroke severity, haemorrhagic transformation, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH), mortality, and poor functional results. Results We analysed data from 13 studies. Our meta-analysis showed that both total bilirubin (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01–1.19) and direct bilirubin (RR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.33–2.42) were independently associated with the severity of AIS. Higher quartiles of total bilirubin were associated with an increased risk of haemorrhagic transformation, but without statistical significance (RR, 2.34; 95% CI, 0.90–6.07). In addition, each unit increase in direct (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.09–1.43) and indirect (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02–1.17) bilirubin levels was significantly associated with a higher risk of haemorrhagic transformation. Moreover, each unit increases in total (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04–1.12), direct (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13–1.44), and indirect (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03–1.18) bilirubin levels was significantly associated with a higher risk of sICH. Data on mortality and poor functional outcomes were insufficient. Conclusion Serum bilirubin levels were positively associated with the severity of AIS. The evidence suggests that bilirubin may be a potential indicator for haemorrhagic transformation and sICH after AIS.
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spelling doaj-art-5c7251bcb58748d2a43ca41ea1cde2bb2025-08-20T02:12:02ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772025-04-0125111410.1186/s12883-025-04168-7Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysisYing Zhong0Lei Li1Geriatrics Department, Huzhou Third Municipal Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou UniversityGeriatrics Department, Huzhou Third Municipal Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou UniversityAbstract Background This review aims to comprehensively examine the role of bilirubin in predicting severity and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods We searched the electronic PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science repositories for articles published in English available before the 15th of June 2024. The outcomes assessed were stroke severity, haemorrhagic transformation, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH), mortality, and poor functional results. Results We analysed data from 13 studies. Our meta-analysis showed that both total bilirubin (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01–1.19) and direct bilirubin (RR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.33–2.42) were independently associated with the severity of AIS. Higher quartiles of total bilirubin were associated with an increased risk of haemorrhagic transformation, but without statistical significance (RR, 2.34; 95% CI, 0.90–6.07). In addition, each unit increase in direct (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.09–1.43) and indirect (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02–1.17) bilirubin levels was significantly associated with a higher risk of haemorrhagic transformation. Moreover, each unit increases in total (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04–1.12), direct (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13–1.44), and indirect (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03–1.18) bilirubin levels was significantly associated with a higher risk of sICH. Data on mortality and poor functional outcomes were insufficient. Conclusion Serum bilirubin levels were positively associated with the severity of AIS. The evidence suggests that bilirubin may be a potential indicator for haemorrhagic transformation and sICH after AIS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04168-7StrokeCerebrovascular accidentLiver functionHaemorrhagic transformation
spellingShingle Ying Zhong
Lei Li
Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Neurology
Stroke
Cerebrovascular accident
Liver function
Haemorrhagic transformation
title Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort bilirubin as a predictor of severity and adverse clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Stroke
Cerebrovascular accident
Liver function
Haemorrhagic transformation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-025-04168-7
work_keys_str_mv AT yingzhong bilirubinasapredictorofseverityandadverseclinicaloutcomesofacuteischemicstrokeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT leili bilirubinasapredictorofseverityandadverseclinicaloutcomesofacuteischemicstrokeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis