Tight glycemic control increases metabolic distress in traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled within-subjects trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of tight glycemic control on brain metabolism after traumatic brain injury using brain positron emission tomography and microdialysis.

Design: Single-center, randomized controlled within-subject crossover observational trial.

Setting: Academic intensive care unit.

Methods: We performed a prospective, unblinded randomized controlled within-subject crossover trial of tight (80-110 mg/dL) vs. loose (120-150 mg/dL) glycemic control in patients with severe traumatic brain injury to determine the effects of glycemic control on brain glucose metabolism, as measured by [18F] deoxy-D-glucose brain positron emission tomography. Brain microdialysis was done simultaneously.

Measurements and main results: Thirteen severely injured traumatic brain injury patients underwent the study between 3 and 8 days (mean 4.8 days) after traumatic brain injury. In ten of these subjects, global brain and gray matter tissues demonstrated higher glucose metabolic rates while glucose was under tight control as compared with loose control (3.2 ± 0.6 vs. 2.4 + 0.4, p = .02 [whole brain] and 3.8 ± 1.4 vs. 2.9 ± 0.8, p = .05 [gray matter]). However, the responses were heterogeneous with pericontusional tissue demonstrating the least state-dependent change. Cerebral microdialysis demonstrated more frequent critical reductions in glucose (p = .02) and elevations of lactate/pyruvate ratio (p = .03) during tight glycemic control.

Conclusion: Tight glycemic control results in increased global glucose uptake and an increased cerebral metabolic crisis after traumatic brain injury. The mechanisms leading to the enhancement of metabolic crisis are unclear, but delivery of more glucose through mild hyperglycemia may be necessary after traumatic brain injury.