Serologic markers of brain injury and cognitive function after cardiopulmonary bypass.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between biochemical markers of brain injury (MBI) and the inflammatory response in relation to neurocognitive deficiency (NCD) after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).


BACKGROUND
In cardiac surgery, NCD is a common but underdiagnosed complication with an unclear pathophysiology leading to significant morbidity. Despite extensive investigation, identification of a MBI for clinical use and clarifying the pathophysiology of NCD have not been achieved.


METHODS
Forty patients undergoing CABG and/or valve procedures using CPB were administered a validated neurocognitive battery preoperatively and postoperatively at day 4 and 3 months. S-100b, neuron specific enolase (NSE), and tau protein were assayed as MBIs preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 hours and day 4. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, C3a, and total peroxide levels were also quantified from serum. Impact of cardiotomy suction and antifibrinolytics on markers of brain injury was assessed.


RESULTS
The incidence of early NCD was 40% (16 of 40). NSE and tau protein at the 6-hour time point were both significantly elevated in the presence of NCD (NCD group) compared with those without NCD (NORM group) (8.69 +/- 0.82 vs. 5.98 +/- 0.61; P = 0.018 and 68.8 vs. 29.2%; P = 0.015; respectively). S-100b increase was not different between the NCD and NORM groups. Cardiotomy suction significantly elevated S-100b levels, whereas NSE and tau were not significantly influenced. Aprotinin did not have an effect on NCD or levels of MBIs. Also, the NCD group had significantly elevated CRP and peroxide levels compared with the NORM group at postoperative day 4 while C3a was significantly elevated at 6 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
NSE and tau are better associated with NCD and less influenced by cardiotomy suction compared with S-100beta. Inflammatory and oxidative stress is associated with NCD post-CPB.
Ramlawi
Basel
B
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Rudolph
James L
JL
Mieno
Shigetoshi
S
Khabbaz
Kamal
K
Sodha
Neel R
NR
Boodhwani
Munir
M
Levkoff
Sue E
SE
Marcantonio
Edward R
ER
Sellke
Frank W
FW
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers