Cerebrospinal fluid lactate and neurological outcome after subarachnoid haemorrhage

Abstract Background Increased lactate in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been regarded as a marker for cerebral ischemia and damage in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to evaluate if CSF-lactate was associated with; impaired cerebral circulation, outcome, sex, age, clinical condition or treatment after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Methods This study consists of 33 patients (22 females, 11 males) with aneurysmal SAH treated at Umea university hospital 2008–2009. Samples were obtained from external ventricular catheters 0–240 h after SAH. Normal CFS-lactate was defined as 1.2–2–1 mmol/L. Hunt & Hess scale assessed clinical condition. Impaired cerebral circulation was evaluated by clinical examination, transcranial doppler, CT-scan, and cerebral angiography. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) evaluated outcome. Results Seventy-nine CSF-lactate samples were analysed. CSF-lactate >2.1 mmol/L was found in 25/33 (76%) patients and in 50/79 (63%) samples. No difference in CSF-lactate levels was found over time. No association was found between patients with CSF-lactate >2.1 mmol/L and; sex, severity of clinical condition, impaired cerebral circulation or outcome. CSF-lactate >2.1 mmol/L was more common in patients ≥61 years of age (p = 0.04) and in patients treated with endovascular coiling compared to surgical clipping (p = 0.0001). Conclusion In patients with SAH, no association was found between increased CSF-lactate (>2.1 mmol/L) and severe clinical condition, impaired cerebral circulation or unfavourable outcome. Endovascular coiling and age ≥61 years was associated with CSF-lactate above >2.1 mmol/L.