Evaluation of the Stage of Hemorrhage Using Optical Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy: An In Vivo Study

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common and often fatal subtype of stroke. Estimation of the stage of hemorrhage allows clinicians to know when the hemorrhage occurred, even in unconscious patients, enabling decisions to be made about the optimal management and treatment strategy. After ICH, oxidative denaturation of the hemoglobin progresses, and deoxyhemoglobin is gradually converted to methemoglobin. MRI has been used to estimate the stage of hemorrhage by evaluating the status of hemoglobin. However, there is currently no bedside device that can be used for the measurement of hemoglobin derivatives in patients with hematomas. The aim of the present study was to investigate the validity of using optical diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (ODRS) for bedside evaluation of the stage of hemorrhage. An ICH model was generated in adult Sprague–Dawley male rats by stereotactically injecting 50 μl of autologous blood into the right caudate nucleus. To analyze the hemoglobin derivatives in the hematomas, ODRS measurement was performed for the rats in vivo. In all rats, we found increased absorption at around 630 nm, which indicated the formation of methemoglobin. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that ODRS allows clinicians to more easily evaluate the stage of hemorrhage at the patient’s bedside.