The value of glial fibrillary acidic protein levels in the diagnosis and prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhages is an important emergency condition due to its high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and rapid intervention are very important to prevent poor clinical outcome of this disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the value of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the diagnosis and prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods: Patients presenting to the emergency department and undergoing computerized tomography and/or lumbar puncture due to suspicion of subarachnoid hemorrhage were included in this prospective study. Based on the computerized tomography–lumbar puncture results, cases were divided into subarachnoid hemorrhage group and non–subarachnoid hemorrhage control group. Subarachnoid hemorrhage patients were classified on the basis of severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage and were classified as good or poor clinical outcome groups based on Glasgow Outcome Scores. Glial fibrillary acidic protein levels were then compared. Results: A total of 111 patients were evaluated due to suspicion of subarachnoid hemorrhage and diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 73) or without subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 38). Cerebrospinal fluid glial fibrillary acidic protein levels were significantly higher in the subarachnoid hemorrhage group than in the non–subarachnoid hemorrhage group (p