Serum netrin-1 concentrations are associated with clinical outcome in acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND

Netrin-1 is an axon guidance protein, which can inhibit inflammatory reaction and stabilize the blood-brain barrier to protect against experimental brain injury. We evaluated the concentration of netrin-1 in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and explored whether netrin-1 is a potential prognostic biomarker for ICH.

METHODS

This study recruited a total of 126 ICH patients and 126 healthy controls. Netrin-1 concentration was determined using a commercially available human enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay kit. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and hematoma volume were used to assess hemorrhagic severity. An unfavorable outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale >2 at 90 days.

RESULTS

ICH patients showed significantly lower serum netrin-1 concentrations than controls. Serum netrin-1 concentrations were strongly and inversely correlated with serum C-reactive protein concentrations, NIHSS score and hematoma volume. Multivariate analyses revealed that low netrin-1 concentration was associated with 90-day death, unfavorable outcome and overall survival after adjustment for other confounding variables. Under the receiver operating characteristic curve, serum netrin-1 remarkably discriminated patients at risk of 90-day death and unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum netrin-1 concentrations are decreased in patients with ICH, and the concentrations of netrin-1 were intimately associated with inflammation, hemorrhagic severity and clinical outcome of ICH.