Gray-to-white matter ratio predicts long-term recovery potential of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

• Published in: Neurosurgical review 2020-02, Vol.43 (1), p.195-202
• Main Authors: Ali, Achmet, Bitir, Burcu, Abdullah, Taner, Sabanci, Pulat Akin, Aras, Yavuz, Aydoseli, Aydin, Tanirgan, Gamze, Sencer, Serra, Akinci, Ibrahim Ozkan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Original Article
• ISSN: 0344-5607; 1437-2320
• DOI: 10.1007/s10143-018-1029-y

Predicting recovery potential of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is challenging. We investigated whether the gray-to-white matter ratio (GWR) predicts recovery of cognitive function (CF) and quality of life (QOL) of these patients. We analyzed data of 69 patients with aSAH. Patients’ demographics, comorbidities, and neurological status were recorded. One year after aSAH, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) tests were administered to the patients, and brain volumes of patients were examined using MRI. Three years after aSAH, MoCA and SF-36 tests were conducted again. Differences between the test scores 1 and 3 years after aSAH were evaluated (ΔMoCA and ΔSF-36). Patients with ΔMoCA ≥ 4 points and those with ΔSF-36 ≥ 8 points were referred to as good MoCA and SF-36 recovery, respectively. ΔMoCA correlated with GWR in male and female patients (females: p   1.36 predicted good MoCA recovery with 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity. ΔSF-36 correlated with GWR in male and female patients (females: p   1.38 predicted good SF-36 recovery with 72% sensitivity and 92% specificity. GWR is a good predictor of the recovery of CF and QOL in patients with aSAH and, thus, can help physicians to better organize rehabilitation of patients.