title: Effect of human albumin on TCD vasospasm, DCI, and cerebral infarction in subarachnoid hemorrhage: the ALISAH study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The neuroprotective effects of human albumin have been studied in animal models of stroke and in humans with various intracranial disorders. We investigated the effect of 25 % human albumin (ALB) on mean cerebral blood flow velocities (MCBFV), delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and cerebral infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied patients from the Albumin in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (ALISAH) pilot clinical trial. We collected data on MCBFV as measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), incidence of DCI, and cerebral infarctions on head computed tomography (CT) scan at 90 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCD showed vasospasm in 75 % (n = 15), 55 % (n = 11), and 29 % (n = 2) of subjects in dosage tiers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. DCI was present in 20 % (n = 4), 15 % (n = 3), and 14 % (n = 1) of subjects in dosage tiers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Cerebral infarctions were seen in 45 % (5 of 9), 27 % (3 of 18), and 25 % (1 of 4) of subjects who had follow-up head CT scans in dosage tiers 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher dosages of ALB were associated with a lower incidence of TCD vasospasm, DCI, and cerebral infarction at 90 days in a dose-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care, Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor St Luke's Medical Center, 6501 Fannin ST, NB:302, Houston, TX, 77030, USA, jisuarez@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Jose I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvillo
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bershad
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Venkatasubba Rao
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents