title: Cerebrospinal fluid levels of neopterin are elevated in delirium after hip fracture.
abstract: The inflammatory cell product neopterin is elevated in serum before and during delirium. This suggests a role for disordered cell-mediated immunity or oxidative stress. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neopterin levels reflect brain neopterin levels more closely than serum levels. Here we hypothesized that CSF neopterin levels would be higher in delirium.
  
  
  
  In this prospective cohort study, 139 elderly patients with acute hip fracture were recruited in Oslo and Edinburgh. Delirium was diagnosed with the confusion assessment method performed daily pre-operatively and on the first 5 days post-operatively. Paired CSF and blood samples were collected at the onset of spinal anaesthesia. Neopterin levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  
  Sixty-four (46 %) of 139 hip fracture patients developed delirium perioperatively. CSF neopterin levels were higher in delirium compared to controls (median 29.6 vs 24.7 nmol/mL, p = 0.003), with highest levels in patients who developed delirium post-operatively. Serum neopterin levels were also higher in delirium (median 37.0 vs 27.1 nmol/mL, p = 0.003). CSF neopterin remained significantly associated with delirium after controlling for relevant risk factors. Higher neopterin levels were associated with poorer outcomes (death or new institutionalization) 1 year after surgery (p = 0.02 for CSF and p = 0.03 for serum).
  
  
  
  This study is the first to examine neopterin in CSF from patients with delirium. Our findings suggest potential roles for activation of cell-mediated immune responses or oxidative stress in the delirium process. High levels of serum or CSF neopterin in hip fracture patients may also be useful in predicting poor outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Delirium Research Group, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.|Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
authors.forename: Roanna J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Oslo Delirium Research Group, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, PB 4950 Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway. l.o.watne@gmail.com.|Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. l.o.watne@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leiv Otto
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0441-6700
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Watne
authors.affiliation: Oslo Delirium Research Group, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, PB 4950 Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway.|Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ane-Victoria
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Idland
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.|Department of Anesthesiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raeder
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Frede
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frihagen
authors.affiliation: Edinburgh Delirium Research Group, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.|Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
authors.forename: Alasdair M J
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: MacLullich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne Cathrine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Staff
authors.affiliation: Oslo Delirium Research Group, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, PB 4950 Nydalen, N-0424, Oslo, Norway.|Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Torgeir Bruun
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Wyller
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Durk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fekkes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003693:Delirium / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D000072161:Orthopedic Surgeons; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019798:Neopterin
keywords: CSF; Cellular immunity; Delirium; Dementia; Oxidative stress