Early restitution of electrocorticogram predicts subsequent behavioral recovery from cardiac arrest.
Previous studies have shown that parameters of EEG restitution reflect the severity of global hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Here, the hypothesis is tested that patterns of EEG restitution during the first 4 hours predict later behavioral recovery. Time course and correlations between behavior, electrocorticogram (EcoG), and neuronal injury were investigated in a rodent model of asphyctic cardiac arrest. Forty Wistar rats were subjected to 5 minutes of asphyxia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Behavior was assessed by repeated scoring of neurodeficits and open field activity until euthanasia at 48 hours. Electrocorticographic bursting occurred at 13.2 +/- 4 minutes after resuscitation. Bursts increased in frequency and duration until the EcoG reverted to a continuous signal. The resuscitation-continuous EcoG interval correlated with the first appearance of spontaneous movements (r = 0.80, P < 0.05). Larger intervals were associated with hyperactivity in the open field at 24 hours (r = 0.61, P < 0.05), indicating a more severe behavioral deficit. Larger intervals were also associated with worse 48-hour neurodeficit scores (P < 0.05). Neuronal damage in the hippocampus correlated with the degree of open field hyperactivity at 14 hours (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate a close temporal and prognostic relationship between electrical and behavioral recovery after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Luft
Andreas R
AR
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. aluft@anatom.uni-tuebingen.de
Buitrago
Manuel M
MM
Paul
Joseph S
JS
Hagan
José
J
Ding
Ming-chieh
MC
Thakor
Nitish
N
Hanley
Daniel F
DF
D000818:Animals; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009336:Necrosis; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic