Serum desmosine levels are associated with the size of ruptured cerebral aneurysms in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Introduction Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a disease associated with high mortality, caused by the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. Decision-support scoring systems used for managing unruptured aneurysms (UIAs) include only radiological parameters related to the size and configuration of the aneurysm, without incorporating blood-based markers. Our aim is to identify a serum marker that shows a correlation with aneurysm size in patients with ruptured aneurysms. Methods Arterial blood samples were collected from patients who experienced aSAH within 24 hours of the ictus, and serum desmosine levels were determined using ELISA. The morphological parameters of the aneurysms were assessed during 3D DSA. A favorable outcome was defined as a 3-month mRS score of 0–3. Results The study included 135 aSAH patients and 25 controls. (i) The desmosine level in serum collected within 24 hours after aneurysm rupture in patients with aSAH was significantly higher compared to the serum level in the control group (aSAH: 0.737 ng/mL [IQR: 0.401–1.214], vs. control: 0.365 ng/mL [IQR: 0.251–0.531], p < 0.001), (ii) examining the size of ruptured aneurysms, patients with aneurysms larger than 7 mm had significantly higher serum desmosine levels than those with aneurysms smaller than 7 mm, (iii) in the group with aneurysms smaller than 7 mm, serum desmosine levels correlated with the aneurysm neck width and the size ratio. Conclusion Serum desmosine shows a strong correlation with the size of ruptured aneurysms in aSAH patients.