• E Mörtberg, H Zetterberg, J Nordmark, K Blennow, C Catry, H Decraemer, E Vanmechelen, and S Rubertsson.
• Department of Surgical Sciences, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. erik.mortberg@surgsci.uu.se
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2011 Oct 1;55(9):1132-8.

BackgroundNeurological outcome after cardiac arrest (CA) is difficult to predict in the acute phase. In this pilot study, we assessed blood levels of tau protein as a prognostic marker for the neurological outcome after 6 months in patients treated with hypothermia after resuscitation from CA.Methods22 unconscious patients resuscitated after CA were treated with mild hypothermia (32-34°C) for 26 h. Blood samples were collected at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 96 h after CA, and the concentration of tau protein was analyzed. Neurological outcome was assessed with the Glasgow-Pittsburgh cerebral performance category (CPC) scale at intensive care unit (ICU) discharge and after 6 months. The higher of the two CPC scores was used.ResultsAt ICU discharge, 21/22 patients were alive, of whom 10 had a good (CPC 1-2) outcome. After 6 months, 15/22 patients were alive, of whom 14 had a good outcome. Tau protein levels were higher among those with a poor outcome at 48 h and 96 h. At 96 h sampling, tau concentration predicted a poor outcome (CPC 3-5) with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 93%.ConclusionsAlthough in a pilot study, a late increase in plasma tau protein seems to be associated with a worse outcome after hypothermia treatment after CA, although more studies are needed.2011 The Authors. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 2011 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.

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