Use of Brain Oxygen Tension Level and Cleaved-tau Protein to Detect Vasospasm After SAH
Use of Brain Oxygen Tension Level and Cleaved-tau Protein to Detect Vasospasm After SAH
The purpose of this study is to investigate if brain oxygen levels, levels of a specific
 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood (Cleaved-tau protein), and brain blood flow can
 predict spasm of brain blood vessels after bleeding in the brain from a ruptured aneurysm.
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm causes subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Blood in the
 subarachnoid space of the brain can cause irritation of the cerebral blood vessels, leading
 to constriction of these vessels, a phenomenon known.as vasospasm. Cerebral vasospasm can
 cause stroke and possibly death. Of all the patients with SAH, approximately 20-40% will
 suffer from clinical vasospasm and more than 60% of those patients will never get back to
 their previous functional status. Tools to identify early vasospasm and thus early treatment
 could greatly decrease the morbidity and mortality following SAH.

 Cleaved tau protein is a neuronal marker that has been detected in blood and CSF of stroke
 patients early in its time course. Since vasospasm can lead to stroke, the purpose of this
 project is to determine whether increase in cleaved tau protein in blood and/or CSF can
 predict early stroke from vasospasm. Changes in brain oxygen tension measured by a brain
 tissue oxygen monitor and cerebral blood flow measured by CT perfusion will be correlated
 with cleaved tau protein levels and clinical status. Utilizing statistical analysis the
 levels of Cleaved tau protein, brain oxygen and blood flow during hospitalization will be
 correlated with patient outcome. Through this study we hope to identify increase in cleaved
 tau protein and decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygenation as predictors of early
 vasospasm. Early detection and treatment of vasospasm could decrease the stroke rate in SAH
 patients and therefore be of great benefit to society.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage

 -  Patients with external ventricular drains

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients in whom consent is not attainable