Serum B cell lymphoma-2 concentrations and mortality of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage

Objective: There is scarce data on B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), a member of the Bcl-2 family of antiapoptotic molecules of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SIH). In one study, higher serum Bcl2 levels were found in patients with SIH than in healthy subjects. Thus, the objective of our study was to compare serum Bcl2 levels in surviving and non-surviving SIH patients.

Methods: Patients with severe supratentorial SIH (defined as Glasgow Coma Scale < 9) admitted from the Intensive Care Units of five Spanish hospitals were included in this observational and prospective study. Serum levels of Bcl2L were determined at the time of diagnosis. Thirty-day mortality was the end-point study.

Results: Non-surviving (n = 38) compared to surviving patients (n = 41) had higher intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) score (p = 0.001), midline shift (p = 0.003), and serum Bcl2 levels (p < 0.001). In addition, non-surviving compared to surviving patients had lower early hematoma evacuation rate (p = 0.03). We found 77% area under curve in mortality prediction for serum Bcl2 levels (95% CI = 0.66-88%; p < 0.001). Patients showing serum Bcl2 levels > 16.5 ng/mL had higher risk of death according to analysis of Kaplan-Meier (HR = 5.2; 95% CI = 2.5-10.6; p < 0.001). An association, after control for ICH score, midline shift, and early hematoma evacuation, was found between serum Bcl2 levels and 30-day mortality (OR = 1.090; 95% CI = 1.030-1.154; p = 0.003) in the multiple logistic regression.

Conclusions: As far as we know, our study is the first one reporting higher serum Bcl2 levels in non-surviving than in surviving SIH patients and the association between serum Bcl2 levels and SIH mortality.