The role of the immuno-inflammatory response in patients after cardiac arrest

The aim of the research was to assess whether concentrations of inflammatory markers in blood of patients after cardiac arrest (CA) are related to their clinical state and survival.

Forty-six patients, aged 63 ±12 years, 21 of them after out-of-hospital CA and 25 after in-hospital CA, were enrolled in the study. Twenty-five patients survived and were discharged from hospital (CA-S); 21 died during hospitalization (CA-D). The clinical state of the patients was evaluated by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II). On the day immediately after CA (day 1) and on the following day (day 2) the plasma concentration of high specific C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-10 and interleukin-6 (Ile-6) were measured.

In CA-D patients, compared with CA-S, a significantly higher concentration of hs-CRP (on day 1, 19 ±5 vs. 15 ±4; on day 2, 21 ±3 vs. 16 ±5 mg/l, p < 0.001) and Ile-6 (on day 1, 24.9 ±19.8 vs. 9.2 ±11.3; on day 2, 24.2 ±19.7 vs. 6.9 ±6.8 IU/ml, p < 0.001) was found. The level of TNF-α was greater in CA-D on day 1 (0.42 ±0.75 vs. 0.18 ±0.21 IU/ml, p < 0.04). Concentrations of hs-CRP and Ile-6 were correlated with the scores of GCS and APACHE II. Using logistic regression analysis and ROC curves the prognostic value of hs-CRP and Ile-6 for survival was proven.

Post-cardiac arrest immuno-inflammatory response, reflected mainly in elevated plasma concentration of hs-CRP and Ile-6, is not only correlated with patients' clinical state but also with prediction of survival.