Electrophysiologic biomarkers for prognostication of neurological outcome are described herein. An inverse correlation was found between timing of a cortical spreading depolarization (SD) wave and neurological outcome as tested at 24 hours post-CPR. Additionally, a mirror image of this SD was identified as a 'repolarization (RP) wave.' Quantifying features of SD and RP during cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provide important metrics for diagnosis and prognosis of neurological injury from hypoxia-ischemia and can serve as an early prognostication tool for predicting outcome at subsequent days after successful CPR. This discovery may also allow for novel therapeutic interventions to improve neurological recovery after hypoxia-ischemia insults.
SPREADING DEPOLARIZATION AND REPOLARIZATION AS BIOMARKERS OF NEUROLOGICAL RECOVERY AFTER CARDIAC ARREST