Temporal Expression Pattern of Hemoxygenase-1 Expression and Its Association with Vasospasm and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background Red blood cell-induced cerebral inflammation and toxicity has been shown to be attenuated by induction of the heme-catalyzing enzyme, hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1), in animal models of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Although inflammatory mechanisms leading to secondary neuronal injury in SAH are becoming increasingly well understood, markers of cerebral inflammation have so far not been implemented in clinical prediction models of SAH. Methods In this biomarker observational study, HO-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels were determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of 66 patients with aneurysmal SAH on days 1, 7, and 14 after the SAH event. HO-1 mRNA expression was determined via real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and relative expression changes were quantified in comparison with expression levels in nonhemorrhagic control CSF. Subarachnoid blood burden, as well as presence of vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), were recorded. Short and long-term clinical outcomes were assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale at discharge and 1 year after the SAH event. Results CSF HO-1 expression levels showed a significant increase over the 14-day observation period (p < 0.001, F = 22.53) and correlated with intracranial hematoma burden (rho = 0.349, p = 0.025). In multivariate analyses, CSF HO-1 expression levels did not reach significance as independent predictors of outcome. Vasospasm on computed tomographic angiography was associated with lower CSF HO-1 expression levels on day 7 after SAH (n = 53, p = 0.010), whereas patients with DCI showed higher CSF HO-1 expression levels on day 14 after SAH (n = 21, p = 0.009). Conclusions HO-1 expression in CSF in patients with SAH follows a distinct temporal induction pattern and is dependent on intracranial hematoma burden. CSF HO-1 expression was unable to predict functional outcome. Associations of early low HO-1 expression with vasospasm and late elevated HO-1 expression with DCI may point to detrimental effects of late HO-1 induction, warranting the need for further investigation in a larger study population.