The Role of Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 as a Predictor of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is one of the major causes of a poor neurological outcome following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Several biomarkers, including matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), have been evaluated to predict the development of DCI for timely management. This prospective cohort study was done on 98 patients with aSAH presenting within 72 h of the ictus. Serum samples were collected preoperatively, 7 days after ictus, 10 days after ictus, or when the patient developed DCI, whichever was earlier. The primary objective was to correlate the serum MMP-9 levels with the development of DCI. The secondary objectives were to correlate the serum MMP-9 levels with sonographic vasospasm and the neurological outcome. There was no correlation between the serum MMP-9 levels and the development of DCI ( p = 0.37). Similarly, there was no correlation between the serum MMP-9 levels and the sonographic vasospasm (0.05) nor with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge ( p = 0.27), mRS at 3 months ( p = 0.22), and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) at 3 months ( p = 0.15). Serum MMP-9 levels do not predict the development of DCI following aSAH.