2011 Late-Breaking Science Abstracts

Abstract

The Late-Breaking Science abstracts were originally presented at the 2011 AAN Annual Meeting. Abstracts qualify for Late-Breaking Science presentations by having key aspects of research conducted after the October 25th abstract submission deadline and must be new and of sufficient scientific importance to warrant expedited presentation and publication. David Wilson, Cambridge, MA, Erik Mortberg, Sten Rebertsson, Uppsala, Sweden, Kaj Blennow, Gothenburg, Sweden, Henrik Zetterberg, Goteborg, Sweden, Linan Song, Lei Chang, Gail Provuncher, Purvish Patel, Evan Ferrell, David Fournier, Cheuk Kan, Todd Campbell, Andrew Rivnak, Brian Pink, Kaitlin Minnehan, Tomasz Piech, David Rissin, David Duffy, Cambridge, MA BACKGROUND: Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are proteolytic products from amyloid precursor protein (APP). Accumulation of Aβ in the form of extracellular plaques is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oxidative stress can increase the production of Aβ, which may potentiate AD onset and vascular dementia. It is believed hypoxic insults trigger Aβ production by activating APP proteolysis via a pathway involving β-secretase (BACE1) in which BACE1 is upregulated by the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). Animal models have helped elucidate this pathway, but a direct link between hypoxia and Aβ production in the human brain has not been established. We employed a new technology (Single Molecule Arrays, SiMoA) capable of ultrasensitive protein measurements to look for changes in serum Aβ in patients following cardiac arrest and resuscitation. METHODS: 26 unconscious patients with cardiac arrest were resuscitated with restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Serial blood samples were collected within 6h after cardiac arrest, and continued at intervals from 1-108h. Inclusion criteria included age, systolic BP >80mmHg after ROSC, and a Glasgow Coma Scale ≤7. Serum aliquots were frozen until assay. Samples were measured in triplicate by SiMoA Aβ assay, which has a limit of detection of less than 0.04 pg/mL. RESULTS: Nearly all patients exhibited …