This narrative review found that aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage triggers a significant catecholamine surge that contributes to secondary brain injury through mechanisms including cerebral vasospasm, blood-brain barrier disruption, cerebral edema, and neuronal damage, with higher catecholamine levels associated with worse neurologic outcomes and increased mortality. The review also highlighted systemic complications—particularly cardiac dysfunction (eg, stress cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias), neurogenic pulmonary edema, metabolic disturbances, and acute kidney injury—underscoring the prognostic and potential therapeutic relevance of targeting catecholamine-mediated pathways in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage management.

Source: Acute and Critical Care