Scholars@Duke
Cina Sasannejad

Cina Sasannejad

Assistant Professor of Neurology
Neurology, Neurocritical Care
cina.sasannejad@duke.edu
40 Duke Medicine Circle, Suite 0151, Room 0151A, Durham, NC 27710

Selected Publications

WHITE MATTER MATTERS: New Approach to the Brain's Hidden Half Using Circulating Oligodendrocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles.

Journal Article Cells · November 12, 2025 White matter, comprising 60% of the human brain, is formed by axonal fibers supported by oligodendrocytes. It is essential for brain communication, yet damage can accumulate silently leading to severe neurological problems. Current diagnostics detect chang ... Full text Link to item Cite

Early beta-blocker exposure and association with brain injury biomarkers following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: A TRACK-TBI study.

Journal Article J Intensive Care Soc · November 2025 BACKGROUND: Beta-blockers have been studied for potential benefits in traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to investigate the association between early beta-blocker exposure and brain injury biomarkers following moderate-severe TBI. METHODS: We c ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Association of Preinjury Beta-Blocker Exposure With Brain Injury Biomarkers Following Traumatic Brain Injury.

Journal Article J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · September 30, 2025 OBJECTIVE: Beta-blockers have been studied for their impact on traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to examine the association of preinjury beta-blocker exposure with early brain injury biomarker levels and outcomes following TBI. METHODS: We retrospecti ... Full text Link to item Cite

Pilot Exploratory Analysis of Serum Gonadal Hormones, Inflammatory Proteins, and Intracerebral Hemorrhage Outcomes.

Journal Article Int J Mol Sci · August 28, 2025 Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains the least treatable form of stroke, with inflammation implicated as a major pathophysiological feature. Hence, this study sought to associate serum proteins and hormones associated with inflammation and ICH outcomes. ... Full text Link to item Cite

Protocol and design of the REPOSE study: a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of suvorexant to improve postoperative sleep and reduce delirium severity in older patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery.

Journal Article BMJ Open · March 13, 2025 INTRODUCTION: Postoperative delirium occurs in up to 40% of older surgical patients and has been associated with prolonged hospital stays, long-term cognitive impairment and increased 1-year postoperative mortality. Postoperative sleep disturbances may inc ... Full text Link to item Cite

Status Epilepticus and Refractory Status Epilepticus

Chapter · January 1, 2025 The critical care multi-professional team relies on multifaceted expertise, including knowledge of the nuances of pharmacological mechanisms, interactions, adverse effects, and contraindications of medications used in the management of emergency neurologic ... Full text Cite

The interplay of psychosis and non-compliance with fatal outcome in an adult with MSUD.

Journal Article Am J Med Genet A · September 2024 Significant progress has been achieved in enhancing early outcomes for individuals with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), a rare metabolic disorder that leads to the accumulation of branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine, where leucine ... Full text Link to item Cite

Association of early dexmedetomidine exposure with brain injury biomarker levels following moderate - Severe traumatic brain injury: A TRACK-TBI study.

Journal Article J Clin Neurosci · August 2024 BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) triggers autonomic dysfunction and inflammatory response that can result in secondary brain injuries. Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 agonist that may modulate autonomic function and inflammation and has been increasi ... Full text Link to item Cite

Anticoagulation in Acute Neurological Disease.

Journal Article Semin Neurol · October 2021 While anticoagulation and its reversal have been of clinical relevance for decades, recent academic and technological advances have expanded the repertoire of its application in neurological disease. The advent of direct oral anticoagulants provides effect ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite

Long-term cognitive impairment after acute respiratory distress syndrome: a review of clinical impact and pathophysiological mechanisms.

Journal Article Crit Care · November 12, 2019 Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors experience a high prevalence of cognitive impairment with concomitantly impaired functional status and quality of life, often persisting months after hospital discharge. In this review, we explore the pa ... Full text Open Access Link to item Cite