Effect of subarachnoid administration of alpha-alpha diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin on cerebral blood flow in rats.

As extravasated red blood cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of perfusion deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage, alpha-alpha diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb) might have a detrimental effect on cerebral perfusion after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We evaluated the effect of subarachnoid administration of DCLHb on cerebral blood flow (CBF). Rats were randomized to receive one of the following solutions into the cisterna magna: Control-0.3 ml of mock cerebrospinal fluid; Blood-0.3 ml of autologous blood; DCLHb-0.3 ml of 10% DCLHb. After 20-min, the area of cerebral hypoperfusion was determined (CBF < 40 ml.100g-1.min-1). The area of hypoperfusion (% area of a coronal brain section, mean +/- SD) was greater in the Blood group (58 +/- 16) than the DCLHb (16 +/- 7) and Control (5 +/- 5) groups (p < 0.05), and was greater in the DCLHb group than the Control group (p < 0.05). These data support a hypothesis that extravasation of blood from the intravascular to the subarachnoid space induces cerebral hypoperfusion. Moreover, the data support the hypothesis that although extravasated molecular hemoglobin decreases CBF, the adverse effect is not as severe as a similar volume of blood.