Early changes in inflammation-related proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Abstract

Background

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a relatively uncommon but high mortality form of stroke that can result in long-lasting disability. A better understanding of key neuroinflammatory changes during the early phase (<72 h) may provide potential avenues of treatment.

Methods

In an attempt to understand these early changes, we recruited 7 aSAH patients for profiling of longitudinal plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins at up to 72 h post injury. We additionally compared this to control plasma obtained previously from healthy elderly volunteers. Using the Alamar Biosciences NULISAseq platform, we obtained a comprehensive picture of early peripheral and central inflammatory changes after injury.

Results

This study demonstrated very early plasma changes across 107 inflammatory proteins, 22 of which showed significant correlations between plasma and CSF. Of these, CXCL12, IL-15, and SAA1 are detectably elevated <24 h in plasma, significantly correlated with CSF levels, and altered as a function of aSAH progression over time during this early phase.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring a large number of inflammatory proteins in CSF and plasma from aSAH patients soon after injury. Despite the small sample size and limitations of the control group, we identified several previously reported “hits” that may offer prognostic utility and/or therapeutic potential for aSAH patients: CXCL12, IL-15, and SAA1.