Serum lipids as protective factors for subarachnoid hemorrhage

Identification of common serum lipid profiles in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) may allow a better understanding of its pathogenesis. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Japan. One hundred and fifty consecutive cases of spontaneous SAH during a 5-year period were examined and their lipid profiles assessed. Age- and gender-matched controls were identified for each case through random hospital sampling. Median serum total cholesterol was 161 mg/dl (range 77-288) in patients with SAH, and 209 mg/dl (134-441) in controls (p < 0.001). Median serum triglycerides were 95 mg/dl (range 28-589) in SAH and 122 mg/dl (31-371) in controls (p < 0.001). A high serum total cholesterol of more than 5.20 mmol/L (200 mg/dl) (odds ratio 0.22 [95% confidence interval 0.12-0.40]) and a high serum triglyceride of more than 1.70 mmol/L (150 mg/dl) (odds ratio 0.29 [95% CI 0.14-0.60]) were independent protective factors for SAH. In conclusion, higher values of both serum cholesterol and triglyceride may be inversely associated with the occurrence of SAH.