Troponin I as an Early Biomarker of Cardiopulmonary Parameters Within the First 24 Hours After Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Intensive Care Unit Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The elevation of serum cardiac troponin I (TNI) in patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (ntSAH) is a well-known phenomenon. However, the relation between elevated TNI and different cardiopulmonary parameters (CPs) within the first 24 hours after ntSAH is unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between TNI and different CP in patients with ntSAH within the first 24 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive group of 117 patients with ntSAH admitted to our emergency department between January 2008 and February 2017. Blood samples were taken to determine TNI values on admission. Demographic data, baseline Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) score, baseline Fisher grade (FG), norepinephrine application rate (NAR) in µg/kg/min, and inspiratory oxygen fraction (OF) were recorded within the first 24 hours.

RESULTS: An increased TNI value was found in 32 (27.4%) of 117 patients. There was a significant correlation between initial elevated TNI and a low WFNS score ( P = .007), a low GCS score ( P = .003) as well as a high OF ( P = <.001). The FG ( P = .27) and NAR ( P = .08) within the first 24 hours of ICU treatment did not show any significant correlation.

CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, an increased TNI value was significantly associated with a low WFNS score and GCS score on admission. The TNI was a predictor of the need for a higher OF within the first 24 hours after ntSAH so that TNI could be an informative biomarker to improve ICU therapy.