Serum Tau as a Predictor of Neurologic Outcome in Cardiac Arrest

Prediction of neurologic outcome after successful resuscitation from cardiac arrest remains difficult. More than half of survivors have permanent brain damage and varying degrees of disability. One rationale for being able to predict poor outcome after resuscitation following cardiac arrest is to better differentiate those patients for whom prolonged intensive care is futile from those with potential for recovery, key information when discussing withdrawal of life support. In this study, serum neuronal protein tau was measured by single-molecule detection assay at 24, 48, and 72 hours after cardiac arrest in a nested cohort of 689 patients within the prospective, international Target Temperature Management Trial. The main outcome was poor n…