NSE serum levels in extracorporeal life support patients-Relevance for neurological outcome?

BACKGROUND

Good neurological outcome is a major determinant after cardiac resuscitation. Extracorporeal life support may rapidly stabilize the patient, but cerebral ischemia remains a frequent complication relevant for further therapy. The aim of this study was to prove the value of NSE to indicate cerebral injury in patients with extracorporeal support after CPR.

METHODS

159 patients with CPR were included. NSE 48h peak levels and trends were tested for usability as predictive marker of brain injury, in-hospital mortality and long-term outcome.

RESULTS

Overall mortality in this cohort was 53.5%. Incidence of relevant brain injury was 34.6% with severe diffuse hypoxia in 23.2%. NSE peaks were comparable in patients with and without focal ischemia, but were increased in patients with severe diffuse hypoxic injury (p<0.0001). ROC analysis (area under the curve) of peak values indicating brain injury and in-hospital mortality was 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-0.82) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.66-0.81), respectively. NSE increased in 56.6% of patients with a sensitivity of 0.82 (95% CI 0.69-0.92) and a specificity of 0.43 (CI 0.0.31-0.55) indicating cerebral injury. Sensitivity and specificity of NSE peak levels >100μg/L was 0.6 (CI 0.49-0.72) and 0.74 (CI 0.63-0.84). In-hospital mortality of patients with NSE >100μg/L was 71.7%. 46.2% of discharged patients are in good neurological status (cerebral performance category scale [CPC] 1-2). Patients with NSE <100μg/L showed an in-hospital mortality of 36.4%, and good neurological status in 67.9%.

CONCLUSION

NSE monitoring reliably indicates relevant cerebral injury in patients on extracorporeal support after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.