title: Serum haptoglobulin changes in patients with severe isolated head injury.
abstract: From a series of 74 patients with severe head injuries and massive brain lesions, we measured the changes in haptoglobulin in 33 cases. On average, the globulin was, after a short drop in the first two days, increased about three times towards the seventh day, and was still above normal after ten days. Seen together with the total alpha-2-globulin increase after head injury this rise seems mainly to be caused by the haptoglobulin changes. Haptoglobulin was found to be a good indicator of the extent of brain tissue damage. It cannot on its own be used for prediction of survival chances.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood*; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D006242:Haptoglobins; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins