Neuron-Specific Enolase and S100B: The Earliest Predictors of Poor Outcome in Cardiac Arrest

Background: Proper prognostication is critical in clinical decision-making following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, only a few prognostic tools with reliable accuracy are available within the first 24 h after admission. Aim: To test the value of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B protein measurements at admission as early biomarkers of poor prognosis after OHCA. Methods: We enrolled 82 consecutive patients with OHCA who were unconscious when admitted. NSE and S100B levels were measured at admission, and routine blood tests were performed. Death and poor neurological status at discharge were considered as poor clinical outcomes. We evaluated the optimal cut-off levels for NSE and S100B using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Results: High concentrations of both biomarkers at admission were significantly associated with an increased risk of poor clinical outcome (NSE: odds ratio [OR] 1.042 per 1 ng/dL, [1.007−1.079; p = 0.004]; S100B: OR 1.046 per 50 pg/mL [1.004−1.090; p < 0.001]). The dual-marker approach with cut-off values of ≥27.6 ng/mL and ≥696 ng/mL for NSE and S100B, respectively, identified patients with poor clinical outcomes with 100% specificity. Conclusions: The NSE and S100B-based dual-marker approach allowed for early discrimination of patients with poor clinical outcomes with 100% specificity. The proposed algorithm may shorten the time required to establish a poor prognosis and limit the volume of futile procedures performed.

Neuron-specific enolase concentrations for the prediction of poor prognosis of comatose patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a biomarker for neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest with the most evidence collected thus far; however, recommended prognostic cutoff values are lacking owing to the discrepancies in the published data.

AIMS

The aim of the study was to establish NSE cutoff values for prognostication in the environment of a cardiac intensive care unit following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

METHODS

A consecutive series of 82 patients admitted after OHCA were enrolled. Blood samples for the measurement of NSE levels were collected at admission and after 1 hour, 3, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Neurological outcomes were quantified using the cerebral performance category (CPC) index. Each patient was classified into either the good (CPC ≤2) or poor prognosis (CPC ≥3) group.

RESULTS

Median NSE concentrations were higher in the poor prognosis group, and the difference reached statistical significance at 48 and 74 hours (84.4 ng/ml vs 22.9 ng/ml at 48 hours and 152.1 ng/ml vs 18.7 ng/ml at 72 hours; P <0.001, respectively). Moreover, in the poor prognosis group, NSE increased significantly between 24 and 72 hours (P <0.001). NSE cutoffs for the prediction of poor prognosis after OHCA were 39.8 ng/ml, 78.7 ng/ml, and 46.2 ng/ml for 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. The areas under the curve were significant at each time point, with the highest values at 48 and 72 hours after admission (0.849 and 0.964, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated NSE concentrations with a rise in levels in serial measurements may be utilized in the prognostication algorithm after OHCA.

The prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy compared to coronary angiography in women with positive stress test results

BACKGROUND

Modern diagnostic strategy in coronary artery disease (CAD) makes it necessary not only to establish a diagnosis but also to assess the cardiovascular risk. It is not clear which strategy should be followed in the case of women with positive ECG stress test results to assess prognosis and start appropriate diagnostics and treatment.The aim of the study was to assess the prognostic value of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in comparison with coronary angiography in women suspected of CAD and with positive ECG stress test results.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study population comprised 115 women (mean age 58.08 ± 8.8 years) suspected of CAD, with a history of chest pain and positive stress test results, who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. In 58 women coronary angiography was performed as the next step of the diagnostic procedure. All the patients were interviewed and had a physical examination, including the assessment of the cardiovascular risk in accordance with the SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) scale and the probability of CAD (POST-TEST) in accordance with the ESC guidelines. The gated single photon emission computed tomography (GSPECT) with Tc-99m-MIBI was considered positive if moderate perfusion changes were observed in at least two segments or severe reversible perfusion disorders were found, regardless of the number of involved segments.The degree of coronary stenosis was assessed visually and changes greater than 50% stenosis of the luminal diameter were considered haemodynamically significant.

RESULTS

The evaluation period covered 43.2 ± 30.8 months on average. The sensitivity of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy against cardiovascular events was 100% and the sensitivity of coronary angiography was 92.3%. The specificity was 93.1%and 88.9% respectively. The PPV of scintigraphy for cardiovascular events was 65% and of coronary angiography was 70.6%. The NPV was 100% and 97.6%respectively. The accuracy of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy for cardiovascular events was 93.9% and the accuracy of coronary angiography for cardiovascular events was 89.7%. The survival analysis confirmed the high prognostic value of SPECT and coronary angiography. However, if compared, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy was a better predictor of survival without cardiovascular events than coronary angiography was (c2 = 9.39, p < 0.01).The most important factors in assessing the cardiovascular risk in the study population included: positive result of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, positive result of coronary angiography,and high SCORE and high POST-TEST values.

CONCLUSIONS

Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy is superiorto coronary angiography in the prediction of necessary revascularisation procedures in women suspected of coronary artery disease and with positive stress test results.