title: Hyperphosphorylated neurofilament NF-H as a predictor of mortality after brain injury in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine whether serum levels of hyperphosphorylated neurofilament NF-H correlate with severity of brain injury in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were enrolled into the prospective study. Venous blood samples were taken after admission and every 24 h for a maximum of 6 consecutive days. Serum NF-H concentrations were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The outcome was evaluated 6 months after TBI using Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The quantitative level of pNF-H remained significantly higher in patients with poor outcome (GOS = 1) in comparison with the other patients for the 2nd-4th day (p = 0.027; p = 0.019; p = 0.01). Levels of pNF-H were significantly higher in patients with diffuse axonal injury on initial CT scan (p = 0.004). Normal levels pNF-H in the paediatric population are unknown. Objective ROC analysis was identification of optimal cut-offs of proteins for prediction of GOS = 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although further, prospective study is warranted, these findings suggest that levels of hyperphosphorylated neurofilament NF-H correlate with mortality and may be useful as predictors of outcome in children with TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic. jzurek@fnbrno.cz
authors.forename: Jiří
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zurek
authors.forename: Ludmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartlová
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fedora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C051774:neurofilament protein H