Increased serum concentrations of signal peptide-Cub-Egf domain-containing protein-1 in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background: Signal peptide-Cub-Epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE1), a marker for coagulation, is correlated with prognosis of some critical illnesses. The current study was designed to investigate the potential prognostic value of serum SCUBE1 concentrations in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods: Serum SCUBE1 concentrations of 125 patients and 125 controls were determined. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for 6-month mortality, overall survival and unfavorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 1-3).

Results: Serum SCUBE1 concentrations were significantly higher in patients than in controls (17.7±7. vs. 1.2±0.4ng/ml, P<0.001) and were associated highly with World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) scores (t=5.109, P<0.001) and modified Fisher scores (t=4.329, P<0.001). SCUBE1 emerged as an independent predictor for 6-month clinical outcomes. It had similar area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to WFNS scores and modified Fisher scores. Moreover, it could markedly improve the AUC of WFNS scores and modified Fisher scores to predict 6-month unfavorable outcome.

Conclusion: Enhanced SCUBE1 concentrations are correlated with increasing severity and poor outcomes of aSAH patients, indicating SCUBE1 might have the potential to identify aSAH patients at risk of poor prognosis.