Journal Article

Prospective, Randomized Trial of Higher Goal Hemoglobin after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Garg, Rajeev K., Batjer, H. Hunt, Alberts, Mark J., Shaibani, Ali, Bernstein, Richard A., Naidech, Andrew M., Bassin, Sarice L., Bendok, Bernard R., Duran, Isis M., Liebling, Storm M.

2010

Overview

Background and Purpose In patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), higher hemoglobin (HGB) has been associated with better outcomes, but packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions with worse outcomes. We performed a prospective pilot trial of goal HGB after SAH. Methods Forty-four patients with SAH and high risk for vasospasm were randomized to goal HGB concentration of at least 10 or 11.5 g/dl. We obtained blinded clinical outcomes at 14 days (NIH Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale, mRS), 28 days (mRS), and 3 months (mRS), and blinded interpretation of brain MRI for cerebral infarction at 14 days. This trial is registered at www.stroketrials.org . Results Forty-four patients were randomized. Patients with goal HGB 11.5 g/dl received more PRBC units per transfusion [1 (1–2) vs. 1 (1–1), P  < 0.001] and more total PRBC units [3 (2–4) vs. 2 (1–3), P  = 0.045]. Prospectively defined safety endpoints were not different between groups. HGB concentration was different between study groups from day 4 onwards. The number of cerebral infarctions on MRI (6 of 20 vs. 9 of 22), NIH Stroke Scale scores at 14 days [1 (0–9.75) vs. 2 (0–16)], and rates of independence on the mRS at 14 days (65% vs. 44%) and 28 days (80% vs. 67%) were similar, but favored higher goal HGB ( P  > 0.1 for all). Conclusions Higher goal hemoglobin in patients with SAH seems to be safe and feasible. A phase III trial of goal HGB after SAH is warranted.

• Publisher: Humana Press Inc,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Anemia / Anemia - blood / Anemia - epidemiology / Anemia - therapy / Aneurysms / Blood / Cardiovascular disease / Catheters / Cerebral Infarction - blood / Cerebral Infarction - epidemiology / Cerebral Infarction - pathology / Consent / Critical Care - methods / Critical Care - statistics & numerical data / Critical Care Medicine / Edema / Enrollments / Erythrocyte Transfusion / Female / Hemoglobin / Hemoglobins - metabolism / Hemorrhage / Hospitals / Humans / Hypotheses / Intensive / Internal Medicine / Ischemia / Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Male / Medical imaging / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Middle Aged / Mortality / Neurology / Original Article / Patients / Pilot Projects / Prospective Studies / Risk Factors / Stroke / Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - blood / Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - epidemiology / Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - pathology / Surgeons / Treatment Outcome / Vasospasm, Intracranial - blood / Vasospasm, Intracranial - epidemiology / Vasospasm, Intracranial - pathology / Ventilation / Ventilators