Abstract W MP37: Novel Prognostic Scores for Early Prediction of Outcome Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Blessing Jaja ◽  
Hester Lingsma ◽  
Ewout Steyerberg ◽  
R. Loch Macdonald ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Cross Validation ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Prognostic Scores ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Fisher Grade

Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a cerebrovascular emergency. Currently, clinicians have limited tools to estimate outcomes early after hospitalization. We aimed to develop novel prognostic scores using large cohorts of patients reflecting experience from different settings. Methods: Logistic regression analysis was used to develop prediction models for mortality and unfavorable outcomes according to 3-month Glasgow outcome score after SAH based on readily obtained parameters at hospital admission. The development cohort was derived from 10 prospective studies involving 10936 patients in the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage International Trialists (SAHIT) repository. Model performance was assessed by bootstrap internal validation and by cross validation by omission of each of the 10 studies, using R2 statistic, Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), and calibration plots. Prognostic scores were developed from the regression coefficients. Results: Predictor variable with the strongest prognostic strength was neurologic status (partial R2 = 12.03%), followed by age (1.91%), treatment modality (1.25%), Fisher grade of CT clot burden (0.65%), history of hypertension (0.37%), aneurysm size (0.12%) and aneurysm location (0.06%). These predictors were combined to develop 3 sets of hierarchical scores based on the coefficients of the regression models. The AUC at bootstrap validation was 0.79-0.80, and at cross validation was 0.64-0.85. Calibration plots demonstrated satisfactory agreement between predicted and observed probabilities of the outcomes. Conclusions: The novel prognostic scores have good predictive ability and potential for broad application as they have been developed from prospective cohorts reflecting experience from different centers globally.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage International Trialists (SAHIT) Models for Dichotomized Long-Term Functional Outcome Prediction After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a United Kingdom Multicenter Cohort Study

Neurosurgery ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel C Hostettler ◽  
Menelaos Pavlou ◽  
Gareth Ambler ◽  
Varinder S Alg ◽  
Stephen Bonner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Outcome Prediction ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Fisher Grade

Abstract BACKGROUND Long-term outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage, beyond the first few months, is difficult to predict, but has critical relevance to patients, their families, and carers. OBJECTIVE To assess the performance of the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage International Trialists (SAHIT) prediction models, which were initially designed to predict short-term (90 d) outcome, as predictors of long-term (2 yr) functional outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). METHODS We included 1545 patients with angiographically-proven aSAH from the Genetic and Observational Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (GOSH) study recruited at 22 hospitals between 2011 and 2014. We collected data on age, WNFS grade on admission, history of hypertension, Fisher grade, aneurysm size and location, as well as treatment modality. Functional outcome was measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) with GOS 1 to 3 corresponding to unfavorable and 4 to 5 to favorable functional outcome, according to the SAHIT models. The SAHIT models were assessed for long-term outcome prediction by estimating measures of calibration (calibration slope) and discrimination (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve [AUC]) in relation to poor clinical outcome. RESULTS Follow-up was standardized to 2 yr using imputation methods. All 3 SAHIT models demonstrated acceptable predictive performance for long-term functional outcome. The estimated AUC was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.65-0.76), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.68-0.77), and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.69-0.79) for the core, neuroimaging, and full models, respectively; the calibration slopes were 0.86, 0.84, and 0.89, indicating good calibration. CONCLUSION The SAHIT prediction models, incorporating simple factors available on hospital admission, show good predictive performance for long-term functional outcome after aSAH.

scholarly journals Risk prediction in multicentre studies when there is confounding by cluster or informative cluster size

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Menelaos Pavlou ◽  
Gareth Ambler ◽  
Rumana Z. Omar
Keyword(s):  
Risk Prediction ◽  
Cluster Size ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Clustered Data ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Informative Cluster Size

Abstract Background Clustered data arise in research when patients are clustered within larger units. Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) and Generalised Linear Models (GLMM) can be used to provide marginal and cluster-specific inference and predictions, respectively. Methods Confounding by Cluster (CBC) and Informative cluster size (ICS) are two complications that may arise when modelling clustered data. CBC can arise when the distribution of a predictor variable (termed ‘exposure’), varies between clusters causing confounding of the exposure-outcome relationship. ICS means that the cluster size conditional on covariates is not independent of the outcome. In both situations, standard GEE and GLMM may provide biased or misleading inference, and modifications have been proposed. However, both CBC and ICS are routinely overlooked in the context of risk prediction, and their impact on the predictive ability of the models has been little explored. We study the effect of CBC and ICS on the predictive ability of risk models for binary outcomes when GEE and GLMM are used. We examine whether two simple approaches to handle CBC and ICS, which involve adjusting for the cluster mean of the exposure and the cluster size, respectively, can improve the accuracy of predictions. Results Both CBC and ICS can be viewed as violations of the assumptions in the standard GLMM; the random effects are correlated with exposure for CBC and cluster size for ICS. Based on these principles, we simulated data subject to CBC/ICS. The simulation studies suggested that the predictive ability of models derived from using standard GLMM and GEE ignoring CBC/ICS was affected. Marginal predictions were found to be mis-calibrated. Adjusting for the cluster-mean of the exposure or the cluster size improved calibration, discrimination and the overall predictive accuracy of marginal predictions, by explaining part of the between cluster variability. The presence of CBC/ICS did not affect the accuracy of conditional predictions. We illustrate these concepts using real data from a multicentre study with potential CBC. Conclusion Ignoring CBC and ICS when developing prediction models for clustered data can affect the accuracy of marginal predictions. Adjusting for the cluster mean of the exposure or the cluster size can improve the predictive accuracy of marginal predictions.

Variation of patient characteristics, management, and outcome with timing of surgery for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 1045-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly B. Mahaney ◽  
Michael M. Todd ◽  
James C. Torner
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Timing Of Surgery ◽  
Early Surgery ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Optimal Time ◽  
World Federation ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Fisher Grade

ObjectThe past 30 years have seen a shift in the timing of surgery for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Earlier practices of delayed surgery that were intended to avoid less favorable surgical conditions have been replaced by a trend toward early surgery to minimize the risks associated with rebleeding and vasospasm. Yet, a consensus as to the optimal timing of surgery has not been reached. The authors hypothesized that earlier surgery, performed using contemporary neurosurgical and neuroanesthesia techniques, would be associated with better outcomes when using contemporary management practices, and sought to define the optimal time interval between SAH and surgery.MethodsData collected as part of the Intraoperative Hypothermia for Aneurysm Surgery Trial (IHAST) were analyzed to investigate the relationship between timing of surgery and outcome at 3 months post-SAH. The IHAST enrolled 1001 patients in 30 neurosurgical centers between February 2000 and April 2003. All patients had a radiographically confirmed SAH, were World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Grades I–III at the time of surgery, and underwent surgical clipping of the presumed culprit aneurysm within 14 days of the date of hemorrhage. Patients were seen at 90-day follow-up visits. The primary outcome variable was a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 1 (good outcome). Intergroup differences in baseline, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were compared using the Fisher exact tests. Variables reported as means were compared with ANOVA. Multiple logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis, adjusting for covariates. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant.ResultsPatients who underwent surgery on Days 1 or 2 (early) or Days 7–14 (late) (Day 0 = date of SAH) fared better than patients who underwent surgery on Days 3–6 (intermediate). Specifically, the worst outcomes were observed in patients who underwent surgery on Days 3 and 4. Patients who had hydrocephalus or Fisher Grade 3 or 4 on admission head CT scans had better outcomes with early surgery than with intermediate or late surgery.ConclusionsEarly surgery, in good-grade patients within 48 hours of SAH, is associated with better outcomes than surgery performed in the 3- to 6-day posthemorrhage interval. Surgical treatment for aneurysmal SAH may be more hazardous during the 3- to 6-day interval, but this should be weighed against the risk of rebleeding.

scholarly journals Elevated Baseline C-Reactive Protein as a Predictor of Outcome After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 786-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Carole L. Turner ◽  
Karol Budohoski ◽  
Christopher Smith ◽  
Peter J. Hutchinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Cerebral Injury ◽  
World Federation ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Poor Outcome ◽  
Fisher Grade ◽  
Good Grade

Abstract BACKGROUND: There remains a proportion of patients with unfavorable outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, of particular relevance in those who present with a good clinical grade. A forewarning of those at risk provides an opportunity towards more intensive monitoring, investigation, and prophylactic treatment prior to the clinical manifestation of advancing cerebral injury. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether biochemical markers sampled in the first days after the initial hemorrhage can predict poor outcome. METHODS: All patients recruited to the multicenter Simvastatin in Aneurysmal Hemorrhage Trial (STASH) were included. Baseline biochemical profiles were taken between time of ictus and day 4 post ictus. The t-test compared outcomes, and a backwards stepwise binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors providing independent prediction of an unfavorable outcome. RESULTS: Baseline biochemical data were obtained in approximately 91% of cases from 803 patients. On admission, 73% of patients were good grade (World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grades 1 or 2); however, 84% had a Fisher grade 3 or 4 on computed tomographic scan. For patients presenting with good grade on admission, higher levels of C-reactive protein, glucose, and white blood cells and lower levels of hematocrit, albumin, and hemoglobin were associated with poor outcome at discharge. C-reactive protein was found to be an independent predictor of outcome for patients presenting in good grade. CONCLUSION: Early recording of C-reactive protein may prove useful in detecting those good grade patients who are at greater risk of clinical deterioration and poor outcome.

Clot volume and clearance rate as independent predictors of vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

2004 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Reilly ◽  
Chris Amidei ◽  
Jocelyn Tolentino ◽  
Babak S. Jahromi ◽  
R. Loch Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Clearance Rate ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Quantitative Imaging ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Focal Neurological Deficit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fisher Grade ◽  
Fine Print

Object. This study was conducted for two purposes. The first was to determine whether a combination of measurements of subarachnoid clot volume, clearance rate, and density could improve prediction of which patients experience vasospasm. The second was to determine if each of these three measures could be used independently to predict vasospasm. Methods. Digital files of the cranial computerized tomography (CT) scans obtained in 75 consecutive patients admitted within 24 hours of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were analyzed in a blinded fashion by an observer who used quantitative imaging software to measure the volume of SAH and its density. Clot clearance rates were measured by quantifying SAH volume on subsequent CT scans. Vasospasm was defined as new onset of a focal neurological deficit or altered consciousness 5 to 12 days after SAH in the absence of other causes of deterioration, diagnosed with the aid of or exclusively by confirmatory transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and/or cerebral angiography. Univariate analysis showed that vasospasm was significantly associated with the SAH grade as classified on the Fisher scale, the initial clot volume, initial clot density, and percentage of clot cleared per day (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, initial clot volume and percentage of clot cleared per day were significant predictors of vasospasm (p < 0.05), whereas Fisher grade and initial clot density were not. Conclusions. Quantitative analysis of subarachnoid clot shows that vasospasm is best predicted by initial subarachnoid clot volume and the percentage of clot cleared per day.

Length of hospital stay in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients without vasospasm on angiography: potential for a fast-track discharge cohort

2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-017424
Author(s):  
Joshua S Catapano ◽  
Visish M Srinivasan ◽  
Kavelin Rumalla ◽  
Mohamed A Labib ◽  
Candice L Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Hospital Stay ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Length Of Hospital Stay ◽  
Hospital Length Of Stay ◽  
Neurologic Outcome ◽  
Angiographic Vasospasm ◽  
Fisher Grade ◽  
Tertiary Center

BackgroundPatients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) frequently suffer from vasospasm. We analyzed the association between absence of early angiographic vasospasm and early discharge.MethodsAll aSAH patients treated from August 1, 2007, to July 31, 2019, at a single tertiary center were reviewed. Patients undergoing diagnostic digital subtraction angiography (DSA) on post-aSAH days 5 to 7 were analyzed; cohorts with and without angiographic vasospasm (angiographic reports by attending neurovascular surgeons) were compared. Primary outcome was hospital length of stay; secondary outcomes were intensive care unit length of stay, 30 day return to the emergency department (ED), and poor neurologic outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score >2.ResultsA total of 298 patients underwent DSA on post-aSAH day 5, 6, or 7. Most patients (n=188, 63%) had angiographic vasospasm; 110 patients (37%) did not. Patients without vasospasm had a significantly lower mean length of hospital stay than vasospasm patients (18.0±7.1 days vs 22.4±8.6 days; p<0.001). The two cohorts did not differ significantly in the proportion of patients with mRS scores >2 at last follow-up or those returning to the ED before 30 days. After adjustment for Hunt and Hess scores, Fisher grade, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, and age, logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of vasospasm on post-aSAH days 5–7 predicted discharge on or before hospital day 14 (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.8 to 6.4, p<0.001).ConclusionLack of angiographic vasospasm 5 to 7 days after aSAH is associated with shorter hospitalization, with no increase in 30 day ED visits or poor neurologic outcome.

scholarly journals Acoustic-Based Prediction of End-Product-Based Fibre Determinates within Standing Jack Pine Trees

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 605
Author(s):  
Peter F. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Wood Density ◽  
Pinus Banksiana ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Microfibril Angle ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Cross Sectional

The objective of this study was to specify, parameterize, and evaluate an acoustic-based inferential framework for estimating commercially-relevant wood attributes within standing jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb) trees. The analytical framework consisted of a suite of models for predicting the dynamic modulus of elasticity (me), microfibril angle (ma), oven-dried wood density (wd), tracheid wall thickness (wt), radial and tangential tracheid diameters (dr and dt, respectively), fibre coarseness (co), and specific surface area (sa), from dilatational stress wave velocity (vd). Data acquisition consisted of (1) in-forest collection of acoustic velocity measurements on 61 sample trees situated within 10 variable-sized plots that were established in four mature jack pine stands situated in boreal Canada followed by the removal of breast-height cross-sectional disk samples, and (2) given (1), in-laboratory extraction of radial-based transverse xylem samples from the 61 disks and subsequent attribute determination via Silviscan-3. Statistically, attribute-specific acoustic prediction models were specified, parameterized, and, subsequently, evaluated on their goodness-of-fit, lack-of-fit, and predictive ability. The results indicated that significant (p ≤ 0.05) and unbiased relationships could be established for all attributes but dt. The models explained 71%, 66%, 61%, 42%, 30%, 19%, and 13% of the variation in me, wt, sa, co, wd, ma, and dr, respectively. Simulated model performance when deploying an acoustic-based wood density estimate indicated that the expected magnitude of the error arising from predicting dt, co, sa, wt, me, and ma prediction would be in the order of ±8%, ±12%, ±12%, ±13%, ±20%, and ±39% of their true values, respectively. Assessment of the utility of predicting the prerequisite wd estimate using micro-drill resistance measures revealed that the amplitude-based wd estimate was inconsequentially more precise than that obtained from vd (≈ <2%). A discourse regarding the potential utility and limitations of the acoustic-based computational suite for forecasting jack pine end-product potential was also articulated.

THE IMPACT OF BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY ON THE EVOLUTION OF VASOSPASM-RELATED INFARCTION AFTER ANEURYSMAL SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE

Neurosurgery ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 610-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Jestaedt ◽  
Mirko Pham ◽  
Andreas J. Bartsch ◽  
Ekkehard Kunze ◽  
Klaus Roosen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Middle Cerebral Artery ◽  
Cerebral Artery ◽  
Balloon Angioplasty ◽  
Anterior Cerebral Artery ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Computed Tomographic ◽  
Fisher Grade ◽  
The Impact

Abstract OBJECTIVE Vasospasm of the cerebral vessels remains a major source for morbidity and mortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of infarction after transluminal balloon angioplasty (TBA) in patients with severe subarachnoid hemorrhage-related vasospasm. METHODS We studied 38 patients (median Hunt and Hess Grade II and median Fisher Grade 4) with angiographically confirmed severe vasospasm (&gt;70% vessel narrowing). A total of 118 vessels with severe vasospasm in the anterior circulation were analyzed. Only the middle cerebral artery, including the terminal internal carotid artery, was treated with TBA (n = 57 vessel segments), whereas the anterior cerebral artery was not treated (n = 61 vessel segments). For both the treated and the untreated vessel territories, infarction on unenhanced computed tomographic scan was assessed as a marker for adverse outcome. RESULTS Infarction after TBA occurred in four middle cerebral artery territories (four out of 57 [7%]), whereas the infarction rate was 23 out of 61 (38%) in the anterior cerebral artery territories not subjected to TBA (P &lt; 0.001, Fisher exact test). Three procedure-related complications occurred during TBA (dissection, n = 1; temporary vessel occlusions, n = 2). One of these remained asymptomatic, whereas this may have contributed to the development of infarction on follow-up computed tomographic scans in two cases. CONCLUSION In a population of patients with a high risk of infarction resulting from vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage, the frequency of infarction in the distribution of vessels undergoing TBA amounts to 7% and is significantly lower than in vessels not undergoing TBA despite some risk inherent to the procedure.

scholarly journals Radiodensity of intraventricular hemorrhage associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage may be a negative predictor of outcome

2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 1032-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Son Nguyen ◽  
Luyuan Li ◽  
Mohit Patel ◽  
Shekar Kurpad ◽  
Wade Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Intraventricular Hemorrhage ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Ventricular System ◽  
Fisher Grade ◽  
Gcs Score

OBJECTIVEThe presence, extent, and distribution of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) have been associated with negative outcomes in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Several qualitative scores (Fisher grade, LeRoux score, and Graeb score) have been established for evaluating SAH and IVH. However, no study has assessed the radiodensity within the ventricular system in aneurysmal SAH patients with IVH. Prior studies have suggested that hemorrhage with a higher radiodensity, as measured by CT Hounsfield units, can cause more irritation to brain parenchyma. Therefore, the authors set out to investigate the relationship between the overall radiodensity of the ventricular system in aneurysmal SAH patients with IVH and their clinical outcome scores.METHODSThe authors reviewed the records of 101 patients who were admitted to their institution with aneurysmal SAH and IVH between January 2011 and July 2015. The following data were collected: age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Hunt and Hess grade, extent of SAH (none, thin, or thick/localized), aneurysm location, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score. To evaluate the ventricular radiodensity, the initial head CT scan was loaded into OsiriX MD. The ventricular system was manually selected as the region of interest (ROI) through all pertinent axial slices. After this, an averaged ventricular radiodensity was calculated from the ROI by the software. GOS scores were dichotomized as 1–3 and 4–5 subgroups for analysis.RESULTSOn univariate analysis, younger age, higher GCS score, lower Hunt and Hess grade, and lower ventricular radiodensity significantly correlated with better GOS scores (all p < 0.05). Subsequent multivariate analysis yielded age (OR 0.936, 95% CI 0.895–0.979), GCS score (OR 3.422, 95% CI 1.9–6.164), and ventricular density (OR 0.937, 95% CI 0.878–0.999) as significant independent predictors (p < 0.05). A receiver operating characteristic curve yielded 12.7 HU (area under the curve 0.625, p = 0.032, sensitivity = 0.591, specificity = 0.596) as threshold between GOS scores of 1–3 and 4–5.CONCLUSIONSThis study suggests that the ventricular radiodensity in aneurysmal SAH patients with IVH, along with GCS score and age, may serve as a predictor of clinical outcome.

scholarly journals Diagnostic value of a ghrelin test for the diagnosis of GH deficiency after subarachnoid hemorrhage

2013 ◽  
Vol 169 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Blijdorp ◽  
L Khajeh ◽  
G M Ribbers ◽  
E M Sneekes ◽  
M H Heijenbrok-Kal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Gh Deficiency ◽  
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
False Positive Rate ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Provocative Test ◽  
Arginine Test

ObjectiveTo determine the diagnostic value of a ghrelin test in the diagnosis of GH deficiency (GHD) shortly after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).DesignProspective single-center observational cohort study.MethodsA ghrelin test was assessed after the acute phase of SAH and a GH-releasing hormone (GHRH)–arginine test 6 months post SAH. Primary outcome was the diagnostic value of a ghrelin test compared with the GHRH–arginine test in the diagnosis of GHD. The secondary outcome was to assess the safety of the ghrelin test, including patients' comfort, adverse events, and idiosyncratic reactions.ResultsForty-three survivors of SAH were included (15 males, 35%, mean age 56.6±11.7). Six out of 43 (14%) SAH survivors were diagnosed with GHD by GHRH–arginine test. In GHD subjects, median GH peak during ghrelin test was significantly lower than that of non-GHD subjects (5.4 vs 16.6,P=0.002). Receiver operating characteristics analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.869. A cutoff limit of a GH peak of 15 μg/l corresponded with a sensitivity of 100% and a false-positive rate of 40%. No adverse events or idiosyncratic reactions were observed in subjects undergoing a ghrelin test, except for one subject who reported flushing shortly after ghrelin infusion.ConclusionOwing to its convenience, validity, and safety, the ghrelin test might be a valuable GH provocative test, especially in the early phase of SAH.

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