High dose erythropoietin increases brain tissue oxygen tension in severe vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
BACKGROUND
Vasospasm-related delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) significantly impacts on outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Erythropoietin (EPO) may reduce the severity of cerebral vasospasm and improve outcome, however, underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the effect of EPO on cerebral metabolism and brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2).


METHODS
Seven consecutive poor grade SAH patients with multimodal neuromonitoring (MM) received systemic EPO therapy (30.000 IU per day for 3 consecutive days) for severe cerebral vasospasm. Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), intracranial pressure (ICP), PbtO2 and brain metabolic changes were analyzed during the next 24 hours after each dose given. Statistical analysis was performed with a mixed effects model.


RESULTS
A total of 22 interventions were analyzed. Median age was 47 years (32-68) and 86 % were female. Three patients (38 %) developed DCI. MAP decreased 2 hours after intervention (P < 0.04) without significantly affecting CPP and ICP. PbtO2 significantly increased over time (P < 0.05) to a maximum of 7 ± 4 mmHg increase 16 hours after infusion. Brain metabolic parameters did not change over time.


CONCLUSIONS
EPO increases PbtO2 in poor grade SAH patients with severe cerebral vasospasm. The effect on outcome needs further investigation.
Neurological Intensive Care Unit, Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. raimund.helbok@uki.at
Raimund
R
Helbok
Ehab
E
Shaker
Ronny
R
Beer
Andreas
A
Chemelli
Martin
M
Sojer
Florian
F
Sohm
Gregor
G
Broessner
Peter
P
Lackner
Monika
M
Beck
Alexandra
A
Zangerle
Bettina
B
Pfausler
Claudius
C
Thome
Erich
E
Schmutzhard
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D004921:Erythropoietin; D010100:Oxygen