Abstract
Background: This study aimed to compare the day-specific association of blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption with neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors treated with target temperature management (TTM).Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 68 OHCA survivors, who underwent TTM between April 2018 and December 2019. The albumin quotient (QA) was calculated as [albuminCSF] / [albuminserum] immediately (day 1), and at 24 h (day 2), 48 h (day 3), and 72 h (day 4) after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The degree of BBB disruption was weighted using the following scoring system: 0.07 ≥ QA (normal), 0.01 ≥ QA > 0.007 (mild), 0.02 ≥ QA > 0.01 (moderate), and QA > 0.02 (severe). This system gave it 0 (normal), 1 (mild), 4 (moderate), and 9 (severe) points. Poor neurological outcome was determined at six months after ROSC and was defined as cerebral performance categories 3–5.Results: We enrolled 68 patients (males, 48; 71%); 37 (54%) of them had a poor neurological outcome. The distributions of this outcome at six months in patients with moderate and severe BBB disruption versus the other groups were 19/22 (80%) vs. 18/46 (50%) on day 1, 31/37 (79%) vs. 6/31 (32%) on day 2, 32/37 (81%) vs. 5/31 (30%) on day 3, and 32/39 (85%) vs. 5/29 (30%) on day 4 (P < 0.001). Using ROC analyses, the optimal cutoff values of QA levels for prediction of neurological outcomes were determined as: day 1, > 0.009 (sensitivity 56.8%, specificity 87.1%); day 2, > 0.012 (sensitivity 81.1%, specificity 87.1%); day 3, > 0.013 (sensitivity 83.8%, specificity 87.1%); day 4, > 0.013 (sensitivity 86.5%, specificity 87.1%); sum of all time points, > 0.039 (sensitivity 89.5%, specificity 79.4%); and scoring system, > 9 (sensitivity 91.9%, specificity 87.1%). Conclusions: Our results suggested that QA is a useful tool for predicting neurological outcomes in OHCA survivors treated with TTM. However, the prediction of poor neurological outcome using QA showed low sensitivity at 100% specificity. Thus, it could be used as part of a multimodal approach than as a single prognostic prediction tool.
Cryptococcus neoformans–astrocyte interactions: effect on fungal blood brain barrier disruption, brain invasion, and meningitis progression
