Increased plasma concentration of adrenomedullin in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

UNLABELLED: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent hypotensive peptide originally identified in pheochromocytoma tissues. Impaired cardiovascular conditions, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and septic shock, stimulate production of AM. This study was performed to determine whether subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) altered plasma AM concentration. Plasma concentrations of AM in 17 patients with SAH were measured for 2 wk after the onset of SAH by AM-specific radioimmunoassay. Plasma concentrations of AM were increased in patients with SAH throughout the study period, compared with those in control subjects. Plasma concentrations of AM in patients classified as Hunt and Kosnik grade III or IV were significantly higher than those classified as Hunt and Kosnik grade I or II on the day of and the day after the onset of SAH. However, plasma concentrations of AM were unaffected by angiographic vasospasm. These findings suggest that plasma concentrations of AM are increased in patients with SAH and may reflect the severity of SAH. IMPLICATIONS: Adrenomedullin has been reported to affect the cerebral circulation. This study was performed to determine whether subarachnoid hemorrhage, a typical cerebrovascular disorder, altered plasma adrenomedullin concentrations. We found that plasma adrenomedullin concentrations increased in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, although no relationship was found between plasma adrenomedullin concentration and angiographic vasospasm. Plasma adrenomedullin concentration may reflect the severity of hemorrhage.