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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 3/2014

Open Access 01-06-2014 | Research

Systemic glucose variability predicts cerebral metabolic distress and mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a retrospective observational study

Authors: Pedro Kurtz, Jan Claassen, Raimund Helbok, J Michael Schmidt, Luis Fernandez, Mary Presciutti, R Morgan Stuart, E Sander Connolly, Kiwon Lee, Neeraj Badjatia, Stephan A Mayer

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 3/2014

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Abstract

Introduction

Cerebral glucose metabolism and energy production are affected by serum glucose levels. Systemic glucose variability has been shown to be associated with poor outcome in critically ill patients. The objective of this study was to assess whether glucose variability is associated with cerebral metabolic distress and outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Methods

A total of 28 consecutive comatose patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, who underwent cerebral microdialysis and intracranial pressure monitoring, were studied. Metabolic distress was defined as lactate/pyruvate ratio (LPR) >40. The relationship between daily glucose variability, the development of cerebral metabolic distress and hospital outcome was analyzed using a multivariable general linear model with a logistic link function for dichotomized outcomes.

Results

Daily serum glucose variability was expressed as the standard deviation (SD) of all serum glucose measurements. General linear models were used to relate this predictor variable to cerebral metabolic distress and mortality at hospital discharge. A total of 3,139 neuromonitoring hours and 181 days were analyzed. After adjustment for Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and brain glucose, SD was independently associated with higher risk of cerebral metabolic distress (adjusted odds ratio = 1.5 (1.1 to 2.1), P = 0.02). Increased variability was also independently associated with in hospital mortality after adjusting for age, Hunt Hess, daily GCS and symptomatic vasospasm (P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Increased systemic glucose variability is associated with cerebral metabolic distress and increased hospital mortality. Therapeutic approaches that reduce glucose variability may impact on brain metabolism and outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Systemic glucose variability predicts cerebral metabolic distress and mortality after subarachnoid hemorrhage: a retrospective observational study
Authors
Pedro Kurtz
Jan Claassen
Raimund Helbok
J Michael Schmidt
Luis Fernandez
Mary Presciutti
R Morgan Stuart
E Sander Connolly
Kiwon Lee
Neeraj Badjatia
Stephan A Mayer
Publication date
01-06-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 3/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc13857

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