Journal of the neurological sciences
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Creatine kinase (CK) and its brain-specific isoenzyme (CK-BB), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and the ions sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium were measured both in CSF and serum and inorganic phosphate in CSF in order to assess their prognostic value in total brain ischemia due to cardiac arrest. The samples were collected at 4, 28 and 76 h after resuscitation. Twenty consecutive patients resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation or asystole were included in the study. ⋯ Statistically significant differences between the groups were seen in both CSF and blood pCO2, pO2, base excess (BE) and actual bicarbonate (HCO3-). CSF or serum NCAM has no prognostic value in anoxic-ischemic coma. The results suggest that in CSF CK-BB and NSE are useful prognostic indicators of hypoxic brain injury when measured 28-76 h after cardiac arrest whereas blood samples have no prognostic value.