title: Plasma tau protein in comatose patients after cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurological outcome after cardiac arrest (CA) is difficult to predict in the acute phase. In this pilot study, we assessed blood levels of tau protein as a prognostic marker for the neurological outcome after 6 months in patients treated with hypothermia after resuscitation from CA.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 unconscious patients resuscitated after CA were treated with mild hypothermia (32-34°C) for 26 h. Blood samples were collected at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 96 h after CA, and the concentration of tau protein was analyzed. Neurological outcome was assessed with the Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category (CPC) scale at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge and after 6 months. The higher of the two CPC scores was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At ICU discharge, 21/22 patients were alive, of whom 10 had a good (CPC 1-2) outcome. After 6 months, 15/22 patients were alive, of whom 14 had a good outcome. Tau protein levels were higher among those with a poor outcome at 48 h and 96 h. At 96 h sampling, tau concentration predicted a poor outcome (CPC 3-5) with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 93%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although in a pilot study, a late increase in plasma tau protein seems to be associated with a worse outcome after hypothermia treatment after CA, although more studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. erik.mortberg@surgsci.uu.se
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mörtberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zetterberg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nordmark
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blennow
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catry
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Decraemer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanmechelen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubertsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003128:Coma / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012372:ROC Curve; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016875:tau Proteins