Haptoglobin genotype

The role of haptoglobin and hemopexin in the prevention of delayed cerebral ischaemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a review of current literature

Delayed cerebral ischaemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The pathophysiology of DCI after aSAH is thought to involve toxic mediators released from lysis of red blood cells within the subarachnoid space, including free haemoglobin and haem. Haptoglobin and hemopexin are endogenously produced acute phase proteins that are involved in the clearance of these toxic mediators. The aim of this review is to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in DCI and the role of both endogenous as well as exogenously administered haptoglobin and hemopexin in the prevention of DCI.

The critical care management of poor-grade subarachnoid haemorrhage

Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage is a neurological syndrome with complex systemic complications. The rupture of an intracranial aneurysm leads to the acute extravasation of arterial blood under high pressure into the subarachnoid space and often into the brain parenchyma and ventricles. The haemorrhage triggers a cascade of complex events, which ultimately can result in early brain injury, delayed cerebral ischaemia, and systemic complications. Although patients with poor-grade subarachnoid haemorrhage (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies 4 and 5) are at higher risk of early brain injury, delayed cerebral ischaemia, and systemic complications, the early and aggressive treatment of this patient population has decreased overall mortality from more than 50% to 35% in the last four decades. These management strategies include (1) transfer to a high-volume centre, (2) neurological and systemic support in a dedicated neurological intensive care unit, (3) early aneurysm repair, (4) use of multimodal neuromonitoring, (5) control of intracranial pressure and the optimisation of cerebral oxygen delivery, (6) prevention and treatment of medical complications, and (7) prevention, monitoring, and aggressive treatment of delayed cerebral ischaemia. The aim of this article is to provide a summary of critical care management strategies applied to the subarachnoid haemorrhage population, especially for patients in poor neurological condition, on the basis of the modern concepts of early brain injury and delayed cerebral ischaemia.