Arachidonic acid level is related to early motor recovery following intracerebral hemorrhage with severe motor paralysis

Background

Low arachidonic acid (AA) levels are reportedly associated with unfavorable outcomes in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Objective

We aimed to clarify whether serum AA levels might be associated with a good recovery from severe motor paralysis in the early stage of hospitalization.

Methods

From among consecutive ICH patients between October 2012 and December 2021, patients with a sum of upper and lower extremity National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores of 4–8 at admission (severe motor paralysis) were included. We defined good early recovery from severe motor paralysis as a sum of upper and lower extremity NIHSS scores of 0–3 on day 7 after admission, and that of individual upper and lower extremities as NIHSS scores of 0–1 on day 7 after admission. We aimed to assess whether serum AA levels might be associated with good early recovery from severe motor paralysis.

Results

We screened 377 consecutive ICH patients, including 140 with severe motor paralysis (88 (63%) males, median age 64 years). Recovery from severe motor paralysis was seen in 48 (34%). Higher AA levels (PR 1.243, 95% CI 1.042 to 1.483, p = 0.016) were independently associated with good overall recovery, and good recovery of upper and lower extremities separately (upper extremity: PR 1.319, 95% CI 1.101 to 1.580, p = 0.003; lower extremity: PR 1.293, 95% CI 1.115 to 1.499, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Higher AA levels may contribute to a good early motor recovery in patients with severe motor paralysis due to ICH.