SHORT REPORT Inflammatory cytokines in subarachnoid haemorrhage: association with abnormal blood flow velocities in basal cerebral arteries

Subarachnoidal release of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1â, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-á) was characterised in 35 patients with sub-arachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and con-trol subjects and compared with development of complicating haemody-namic abnormalities in basal cerebral arteries and clinical outcome. Serial analysis allowed the observation of a subacute response profile of these key mediators of inflammation in the sub-arachnoidal space. This compartmental-ised inflammatory host response was closely associated in time and extent with development of increased blood flow ve-locities in the basal cerebral vessels as recorded by transcranial Doppler sonog-raphy. Moreover, intrathecal secretion of inflammatory cytokines was significantly increased in patients with poor clinical outcome. Together, these findings suggest a role of excessive compartmentalised inflammatory host response in pathogen-esis of cerebrovascular complications after SAH. (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001;70:534–537