Heparin-binding protein as a marker of ventriculostomy related infection and central nervous system inflammation in neuro-intensive care

OBJECTIVE

Diagnosis of ventriculostomy related infections (VRI) in the neuro-intensive care unit remains challenging and current biomarkers lack adequate precision. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of Heparin-binding protein (HBP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a diagnostic biomarker of VRI.

METHODS

All patients treated with an external ventricular drain (EVD) between January 2009 and March 2010 at Skåne university hospital in Lund, Sweden, were consecutively included. CSF samples obtained during routine care were analyzed for HBP. VRI was defined as a positive bacterial microbiology test result on a CSF sample with an erythrocyte-corrected leukocyte count of > 50 × 10⁶/l. HBP levels at VRI diagnosis was compared to peak HBP levels in non-VRI controls.

RESULTS

In total, 394 CSF samples from 103 patients were analyzed for HBP. Seven patients (6.8%) fulfilled VRI criteria. Levels of HBP were significantly higher in VRI subjects (31.7 ng/mL [IQR 26.9-40.7 ng/mL]) compared to non-VRI controls (7.7 ng/mL [IQR 4.1-24.5 ng/mL]) (p = 0.024). The AUC of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.90). Among non-VRI patients, HBP was highest in patients with acute bacterial meningitis. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage displayed higher HBP levels than those with traumatic brain injury or shunt dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

HBP levels were higher in VRI subjects and varied between patients and different diagnoses. To validate the clinical usefulness and added value of HBP as a biomarker for VRI, the results need to be confirmed in larger studies with head-to-head comparisons to current biomarkers.

Antisecretory factor is safe to use as add-on treatment in newly diagnosed glioblastoma

PURPOSE

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Despite the best available treatment, prognosis remains poor. Current standard therapy consists of surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ). Experimental studies suggest that antisecretory factor (AF), an endogenous protein with proposed antisecretory and anti-inflammatory properties, may potentiate the effect of TMZ and alleviate cerebral edema. Salovum is an egg yolk powder enriched for AF and is classified as a medical food in the European Union. In this pilot study, we evaluate the safety and feasibility of add-on Salovum in GBM patients.

METHODS

Eight patients with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed GBM were prescribed Salovum during concomitant radiochemotherapy. Safety was determined by the number of treatment-related adverse events. Feasibility was determined by the number of patients who completed the full prescribed Salovum treatment.

RESULTS

No serious treatment-related adverse events were observed. Out of 8 included patients, 2 did not complete the full treatment. Only one of the dropouts was due to issues directly related to Salovum, which were nausea and loss of appetite. Median survival was 23 months.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that Salovum is safe to use as an add-on treatment for GBM. In terms of feasibility, adherence to the treatment regimen requires a determined and independent patient as the large doses prescribed may cause nausea and loss of appetite.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04116138. Registered on 04/10/2019.

Low Morbidity and Mortality in Children with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Treated According to the Lund Concept: A Population-Based Study

Previous reports of mortality and morbidity in pediatric severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) vary considerably, with few population-based studies. Mortality rates from 3-33 % and varying morbidity have been reported, most commonly using the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (eGOS). The Lund concept is a treatment algorithm for severe TBI aiming at controlling intracranial pressure (ICP) by reducing cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). The aim of the present study was to retrospectively assess mortality and morbidity in a population of pediatric TBI treated according to the Lund concept. All cases of severe pediatric TBI (age <18 years) in the southern region of Sweden during 19 years were identified. Patients were treated according to the Lund concept. Mortality, eGOS, ICP, CPP, time in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU), drugs delivered and surgical procedures were recorded. Data were analyzed both by dichotomized outcomes and by ordinal statistics. A total of 135 cases of severe TBI <18 years of age were recorded (incidence 2.0/100000) and 86 patients were admitted to the tertiary NICU. Mortality including all cases was 43% (mortality rate 0.7/100,000) and in NICU 10%. Outcome was good in 60%, moderate in 25%, unfavorable in 15%, with none in a vegetative status. In both dichotomized and ordinal analyses, CPP <40 mm Hg and ICP >15 were associated with poor outcome, supporting current guidelines. However, high CPP also was associated with increased mortality and morbidity, supporting that elevated CPP might increase cerebral edema. In this study, the Lund concept resulted in low mortality and a favorable outcome in a majority of severe pediatric TBI patients; however, randomized controlled trials are warranted to verify this.

Casemix, management, and mortality of patients rreseceiving emergency neurosurgery for traumatic brain injury in the Global Neurotrauma Outcomes Study: a prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasingly recognised as being responsible for a substantial proportion of the global burden of disease. Neurosurgical interventions are an important aspect of care for patients with TBI, but there is little epidemiological data available on this patient population. We aimed to characterise differences in casemix, management, and mortality of patients receiving emergency neurosurgery for TBI across different levels of human development.

METHODS

We did a prospective observational cohort study of consecutive patients with TBI undergoing emergency neurosurgery, in a convenience sample of hospitals identified by open invitation, through international and regional scientific societies and meetings, individual contacts, and social media. Patients receiving emergency neurosurgery for TBI in each hospital's 30-day study period were all eligible for inclusion, with the exception of patients undergoing insertion of an intracranial pressure monitor only, ventriculostomy placement only, or a procedure for drainage of a chronic subdural haematoma. The primary outcome was mortality at 14 days postoperatively (or last point of observation if the patient was discharged before this time point). Countries were stratified according to their Human Development Index (HDI)-a composite of life expectancy, education, and income measures-into very high HDI, high HDI, medium HDI, and low HDI tiers. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to examine the effect of HDI on mortality while accounting for and quantifying between-hospital and between-country variation.

FINDINGS

Our study included 1635 records from 159 hospitals in 57 countries, collected between Nov 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2020. 328 (20%) records were from countries in the very high HDI tier, 539 (33%) from countries in the high HDI tier, 614 (38%) from countries in the medium HDI tier, and 154 (9%) from countries in the low HDI tier. The median age was 35 years (IQR 24-51), with the oldest patients in the very high HDI tier (median 54 years, IQR 34-69) and the youngest in the low HDI tier (median 28 years, IQR 20-38). The most common procedures were elevation of a depressed skull fracture in the low HDI tier (69 [45%]), evacuation of a supratentorial extradural haematoma in the medium HDI tier (189 [31%]) and high HDI tier (173 [32%]), and evacuation of a supratentorial acute subdural haematoma in the very high HDI tier (155 [47%]). Median time from injury to surgery was 13 h (IQR 6-32). Overall mortality was 18% (299 of 1635). After adjustment for casemix, the odds of mortality were greater in the medium HDI tier (odds ratio [OR] 2·84, 95% CI 1·55-5·2) and high HDI tier (2·26, 1·23-4·15), but not the low HDI tier (1·66, 0·61-4·46), relative to the very high HDI tier. There was significant between-hospital variation in mortality (median OR 2·04, 95% CI 1·17-2·49).

INTERPRETATION

Patients receiving emergency neurosurgery for TBI differed considerably in their admission characteristics and management across human development settings. Level of human development was associated with mortality. Substantial opportunities to improve care globally were identified, including reducing delays to surgery. Between-hospital variation in mortality suggests changes at an institutional level could influence outcome and comparative effectiveness research could identify best practices.

FUNDING

National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Group.

Cerebral Microdialysis-Based Interventions Targeting Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), a complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), is linked to cerebral vasospasm and associated with poor long-term outcome. We implemented a structured cerebral microdialysis (CMD) based protocol using the lactate/pyruvate ratio (LPR) as an indicator of the cerebral energy metabolic status in the neurocritical care decision making, using an LPR ≥ 30 as a cutoff suggesting an energy metabolic disturbance. We hypothesized that CMD monitoring could contribute to active, protocol-driven therapeutic interventions that may lead to the improved management of patients with SAH.

METHODS

Between 2018 and 2020, 49 invasively monitored patients with SAH, median Glasgow Coma Scale 11 (range 3-15), and World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies scale 4 (range 1-5) on admission receiving CMD were included. We defined a major CMD event as an LPR ≥ 40 for ≥ 2 h and a minor CMD event as an LPR ≥ 30 for ≥ 2 h.

RESULTS

We analyzed 7,223 CMD samples over a median of 6 days (5-8). Eight patients had no CMD events. In 41 patients, 113 minor events were recorded, and in 23 patients 42 major events were recorded. Our local protocols were adhered to in 40 major (95%) and 98 minor events (87%), with an active intervention in 32 (76%) and 71 (63%), respectively. Normalization of energy metabolic status (defined as four consecutive samples with LPR < 30 for minor and LPR < 40 for major events) was seen after 69% of major and 59% of minor events. The incidence of DCI-related infarcts was 10% (five patients), with only two observed in a CMD-monitored brain region.

CONCLUSIONS

Active interventions were initiated in a majority of LPR events based on CMD monitoring. A low DCI incidence was observed, which may be associated with the active interventions. The potential aid of CMD in the clinical decision-making targeting DCI needs confirmation in additional SAH studies.

Effect of antisecretory factor, given as a food supplement to adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury (SASAT): protocol for an exploratory randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) constitutes a global epidemic. Overall outcome is poor, with mortality ranging from 10 to 70% and significant long-term morbidity. Several experimental reports have claimed effect on traumatic edema, but no clinical trials have shown effect on edema or outcome. Antisecretory factor, an endogenous protein, is commercially available as Salovum®, which is classified as a medical food by the European Union and has shown effect in experimental trauma models and feasibility with signs of effect in 2 pilot case series. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of antisecretory factor in adult patients with severe traumatic brain injury as measured by 30-day mortality, treatment intensity level (TIL), and intracranial pressure (ICP).

Methods/design

This is a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical phase 2 trial, investigating the clinical superiority of Salovum® given as a food supplement to adults with severe TBI (GCS < 9), presenting to the trauma unit at Tygerberg University Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, that are planned for invasive ICP monitoring and neurointensive care, will be screened for eligibility, and assigned to either treatment group (n = 50) or placebo group (n = 50). In both groups, the primary outcome will be 30-day mortality, recorded via hospital charts, follow-up phone calls, and the population registry. Secondary outcomes will be treatment intensity level (TIL), scored from hospital charts, and ICP registered from hospital data monitoring.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03339505. Registered on September 17, 2017.

Protocol version 3.0 from November 13, 2020

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06275-z.

Extreme intracranial pressure elevation > 90 mmHg in an awake patient with primary CNS lymphoma-case report

We describe a patient with primary CNS lymphomas, awake despite an extreme ICP elevation. A 48-year-old woman presented with headache since 1 month, and bilateral papillary edema was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse infiltration around the petrous bone. Following external ventricular drainage (EVD) placement, ICP levels of > 90 mmHg were recorded while the patient was fully awake. Cytology revealed an aggressive primary CNS lymphoma. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage at high opening pressure levels was required. We conclude that extreme ICP elevations, treatable by CSF drainage, can be observed without a reduced level of consciousness.

Antisecretory Factor May Reduce ICP in Severe TBI-A Case Series

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) constitutes a global epidemic. Overall outcome is poor, with mortality ranging from 10 to 70% and significant long-term morbidity. Several experimental reports have claimed effect on traumatic edema, but all clinical trials have failed. Antisecretory factor, an endogenous protein, is commercially available as Salovum®, which is classified as a medical food by the European Union and has been proven effective in experimental trauma models. It has, however, previously not been tested in humans with severe TBI. We hereby report a case series of five adult patients with severe TBI, treated with Salovum. The objective of the intervention was to evaluate safety and, if possible, its effect on intracranial pressure and outcome. Patients received 1 g Salovum per kilo of body weight divided into six doses per 24 h. Each dose was administered through the nasogastric tube. Patients were scheduled for 5 days of treatment with Salovum. Intracranial pressure was controlled in all patients. In three of five patients, intracranial pressure could be controlled with Salovum and deep sedation (no barbiturates), except during periods of gastroparesis. Five of five patients had a favorable short-term outcome, and four of five patients had a favorable long-term outcome. No toxicity was observed. We conclude that at least three of the five treated patients experienced an effect of Salovum with signs of reduction of intracranial pressure and signs of clinical benefit. In order to validate the potential of antisecretory factor in TBI, a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with Salovum has been initiated. Primary outcome for the trial is 30-day mortality; secondary outcomes are treatment intensity level, intracranial pressure, and number of days at the neurointensive care unit.

What has inflammation to do with traumatic brain injury?

INTRODUCTION

Inflammation is an stereotypical response to tissue damage and has been extensively documented in experimental and clinical traumatic brain injury (TBI), including children.

DISCUSSION

The initiation and orchestration of inflammation in TBI, as in other tissues, is complex and multifactorial encompassing pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, complement factors, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and other undefined factors. It is evident that inflammation can have both beneficial and detrimental effects in TBI, but the mechanisms underlying this dichotomy are mostly unknown. Modification of the inflammatory response may be neuroprotective. Monitoring inflammation is now possible with techniques such as microdialysis; however, the prognostic value of measuring inflammatory mediators in TBI is still unclear with conflicting reports. Except for corticosteroids, no anti-inflammatory agents have been tested in TBI, and the negative results with these may have been flawed by their multiple side effects. Clinical trials with anti-inflammatory agents that target multiple or central and downstream pathways are warranted in adult and pediatric TBI. This review examines the mechanisms of inflammation after TBI, monitoring, and possible routes of intervention.

Allopurinol: intravenous use for prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia

PURPOSE

To tabulate data obtained over a 21-year period to determine the efficacy and safety of an intravenous (IV) allopurinol preparation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

IV allopurinol was provided on a compassionate plea basis to patients of any age in whom xanthine oxidase inhibitor therapy was indicated as an adjunct to chemotherapy and for whom oral intake was restricted. Three hundred twenty-seven investigators at multiple hospitals in the United States treated 1,172 patients with IV allopurinol. The vast majority of these patients had a malignancy and were in danger of developing tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and subsequent acute uric acid nephropathy (AUAN) and were unable to take oral allopurinol. Data referable to the time period of IV allopurinol administration were collected, collated, and analyzed retrospectively. There was no randomization.

RESULTS

In patients initiating treatment for an elevated serum uric acid (SUA), the SUA normalized or improved in 87% of adult patients and normalized or improved in 95% of pediatric patients. IV allopurinol, administered prophylactically to patients at high risk of developing hyperuricemia and TLS, prevented an increase in SUA levels in 93% of adults and 92% of children. Toxicities caused by IV allopurinol were minimal and consisted of 10 instances of mild to moderate skin or allergic reactions.

CONCLUSION

IV allopurinol is as efficacious and safe as oral allopurinol and will be of significant benefit to patients at risk of TLS and AUAN and unable to take oral medication.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS

Retinitis is the commonest clinical manifestation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in patients with AIDS. Untreated patients generally experience progressive involvement of the retina, which may result in blindness. Attempts to treat this condition with vidarabine and interferon-alpha have been uniformly unsuccessful. Therapy with ganciclovir (9[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine) (7.5-15 mg/[kg./d] given intravenously in two or three divided doses) has been shown to halt progression of retinitis and may result in limited healing in some cases; viremia and shedding of virus from other sites (such as the urine) are halted or reduced. However, reactivation of infection and retinitis usually occurs when ganciclovir therapy is discontinued. For that reason, most patients have received continued therapy with the drug, most commonly at a dosage of 5-6 mg/(kg.d) administered as a single intravenous infusion 5-7 days per week. Both retrospective and prospective, randomized trials have shown that maintenance therapy delays (but does not prevent) reactivation of infection. Much more limited studies with foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate) suggest that this drug will also be useful for treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients. Further research is needed, however, since existing agents have a low therapeutic ratio and cannot be given orally to patients requiring long-term maintenance therapy.