• Ichiro Nakagawa, Shohei Yokoyama, Koji Omoto, Yasuhiro Takeshima, Ryosuke Matsuda, Fumihiko Nishimura, Shuichi Yamada, Hiroshi Yokota, Yasushi Motoyama, Young-Su Park, and Hiroyuki Nakase.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan. Electronic address: nakagawa@naramed-u.ac.jp.
• World Neurosurg. 2017 Mar 1; 99: 457-464.

ObjectiveOccurrence of cerebral vasospasm after onset of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a critical factor determining clinical prognosis. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, both ω-3 fatty acids (ω-3FA), can suppress cerebral vasospasm, and docosahexaenoic acid can relax vessel vasoconstriction and have neuroprotective effects. We investigated whether administration of ω-3FA prevented cerebral vasospasm occurrence and improved clinical outcomes after aneurysmal SAH.MethodsFrom 2012 to 2015, 100 consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH were divided into 2 periods. Between 2012 and 2013 (control period), 45 patients received standard management. Between 2014 and 2015 (ω-3FA period), 55 patients were prospectively treated with additional ω-3FA. Occurrence of cerebral vasospasm, occurrence of cerebral infarction caused by vasospasm, and modified Rankin Scale scores at 30 days and 90 days after onset of SAH for each period were evaluated and compared.ResultsThe frequency of angiographic cerebral vasospasm in the ω-3FA period was significantly lower than in the control period (12 patients vs. 23 patients, P = 0.004). The frequency of new infarction caused by vasospasm in the ω-3FA period was also significantly lower than in the control period (5 patients vs. 14 patients, P = 0.011). There was a significant difference in modified Rankin Scale scores at 90 days after onset of SAH between the groups (P = 0.031). No adverse events were associated with ω-3FA administration.ConclusionsAdministration of ω-3FA after aneurysmal SAH may reduce the frequency of cerebral vasospasm and may improve clinical outcomes.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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