title: Serum biochemical markers for post-concussion syndrome in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is a major public health problem in the United States. A significant subset of MTBI patients develop persistent and distressing neurological, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms, known as the post-concussion syndrome (PCS). To date, multiple studies have assessed the relationship between brain-related proteins found in the serum at the time of injury, and the development of PCS. We conducted a systematic review of prospective cohort studies that assessed the ability of serum biochemical markers to predict PCS after MTBI. A total of 11 studies assessing three different potential biochemical markers of PCS--S100 proteins, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and cleaved Tau protein (CTP)--met selection criteria. Of these markers, S100 appeared to be the best researched. We conclude that no biomarker has consistently demonstrated the ability to predict PCS after MTBI. A combination of clinical factors in conjunction with biochemical markers may be necessary to develop a comprehensive decision rule that more accurately predicts PCS after MTBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. tomerbegaz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tomer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Begaz
authors.forename: Demetrios N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Kyriacou
authors.forename: Jordana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bazarian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009418:S100 Proteins; D016875:tau Proteins; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase