Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between apathy and lesion location and serum homocysteine during the acute stage of ischemic stroke. Methods 152 patients with acute cerebral infarction were recruited. 152 volunteers from medical center were as control group. The Apathy Scale (AS) was used to assess poststroke apathy (PSA). National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the severity of stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was used to evaluate the lesion location. Modified Fazekas Scale was used to assess leukoaraiosis. The serum levels of homocysteine of patients were determined. Results The prevalence of PSA was significantly higher in the patients than in the control group (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that frontal lesion (P=0.001), basal ganglia lesion (P=0.006), pons lesion (P=0.002) and higher homocysteine level (P<0.001) significantly related with PSA. Conclusion Frontal lesion, basal ganglia lesion, pons lesion and higher homocysteine level may be predictors for apathy in acute stage of ischemic stroke.

Key words: stroke, apathy, lesion location, homocysteine