title: Serum tau protein level for neurological injuries in carbon monoxide poisoning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning causes hypoxia that results tissue injury, especially in the brain and heart. Delayed neurologic sequela is one of the most serious complications that may occur up to 40% of severe CO poisoning cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine an association between the serum tau protein and severe neurologic symptoms/signs upon presentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight patients with CO poisoning were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. The patients were divided into two groups, Group 1: those with loss of consciousness (LOC)/syncope, seizure, coma, altered mental status (n = 19), and Group 2; without LOC (n = 59). Serum tau protein levels were studied on admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the patients was 37.3 ± 15.4 and 53.6% were male. Headache was the most common presenting symptom observed among 67 patients (86%). The median serum tau protein level was 76.54 pg/mL (35.56-152.65) within group 1, 64.04 pg/mL (23.85-193.64) in patients within group 2 (p = 0.039), respectively. The median serum tau protein levels were 79.80 pg/mL (35.56-193.64) in patients who received HBO therapy and 65.79 pg/mL (23.85-167.29) in patients who did not receive HBO therapy (p = 0.032). The value of area under the curve was 0.642 for detecting CO poisoning with severe neurological symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although tau protein levels were significantly higher in patients with severe neurological symptoms; the difference did not reach a clinical significance. Further studies are needed in order to reveal the validity of tau protein for detecting neurological injuries in patients with CO toxicity.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. isakilicaslan@hotmail.com
authors: Isa
authors: I
authors: Kilicaslan
authors: Fikret
authors: F
authors: Bildik
authors: Gokhan
authors: G
authors: Aksel
authors: Gulsah
authors: G
authors: Yavuz
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Gulbahar
authors: Ayfer
authors: A
authors: Keles
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Demircan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016875:tau Proteins