Increased cortisol levels are associated with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Physiological reactions of the stress hormone cortisol include hyperglycemia, hypertension, and endothelium dysfunction. In patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), hyperglycemia, hypertension, and endothelium dysfunction are associated with the occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate whether increased serum cortisol levels after aneurysmal SAH are associated with DCI occurrence. Blood samples were obtained at standard intervals after SAH. DCI was defined as the gradual onset of new focal neurological impairment, and/or a decreased level of consciousness of at least 2 points as recorded on the Glasgow Coma Scale. Correlation coefficients were calculated to investigate the associations between cortisol and serum glucose levels, and between cortisol and von Willebrand factor levels. Thirty-one patients were included. Eleven patients (35%) developed DCI. Signs of DCI started at a median of 6 days (range 4-10 days). Patients who developed DCI had significantly higher cortisol levels than patients without DCI (P = 0.006). Statistically significant, but weak, correlations were observed between cortisol and serum glucose levels (r = 0.216, P = 0.006), and cortisol and von Willebrand factor levels (r = 0.282, P < 0.001). Increased serum cortisol levels after SAH are associated with DCI occurrence and might be the link between the associations of hyperglycemia and endothelium dysfunction with DCI. It remains to be investigated whether the association between cortisol levels and DCI is independent from known prognostic baseline factors, such as amount of blood on admission CT scan.

Citation

Mervyn D I Vergouwen, Nan van Geloven, Rob J de Haan, Nyika D Kruyt, Marinus Vermeulen, Yvo B W E M Roos. Increased cortisol levels are associated with delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurocritical care. 2010 Jun;12(3):342-5

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PMID: 20069390

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