Sulfonylurea drug pretreatment and functional outcome in diabetic patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

PURPOSE

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with poor clinical outcome and high mortality. Sulfonylurea (SFU) use may be a viable therapy for inhibiting sulfonylurea receptor-1 and NC channels and reducing perihematomal edema and blood-brain barrier disruption. We sought to evaluate the effects of prehospital SFU use with outcomes in diabetic patients with acute ICH.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of diabetic patients presenting with acute ICH at a tertiary care center. Study inclusion criteria included spontaneous ICH etiology and age>18years. Baseline clinical severity was documented using ICH-score. Hematoma volumes (HV) on admission were calculated using ABC/2 formula. Unfavorable functional outcome was documented as discharge modified Rankin Scale scores 2-6.

RESULTS

230 diabetic patients with acute ICH fulfilled inclusion criteria (mean age 64±13years, men 53%). SFU pretreatment was documented in 16% of the study population. Patients with SFU pretreatment had significantly (p<0.05) lower median ICH-scores (0, IQR: 0-2) and median admission HV (4cm, IQR: 1-12) compared to controls [ICH-score: 1 (IQR: 0-3); HV: 9cm (IQR: 3-20)]. SFU pretreatment was independently (p=0.033) and negatively associated with the cubed root of admission HV (linear regression coefficient: -0.208; 95%CI: -0.398 to -0.017) in multiple linear regression analyses adjusting for potential confounders. Pretreatment with SFU was also independently (p=0.033) associated with lower likelihood of unfavorable functional outcome (OR=0.19; 95%CI: 0.04-0.88) in multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

SFU pretreatment may be an independent predictor for improved functional outcome in diabetic patients with acute ICH. This association requires independent confirmation in a large prospective cohort study.