title: Serum tau protein level serves as a predictive factor for neurological prognosis in neonatal asphyxia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that is present in axons. Elevated tau protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid or serum are associated with several central nervous system diseases and can indicate neuronal injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we measured and then compared serum tau protein levels between infants with neonatal asphyxia and control subjects. We examined these data to investigate the correlation between serum tau protein levels and neurological outcomes after neonatal asphyxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum tau protein levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 19 neonates with neonatal asphyxia. Of these 19 neonates, 3 had severe spastic tetraplegia, and 1 had west syndrome. A group of 19 unaffected neonates was included in the study as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum tau protein levels on postnatal day 3 were significantly higher in the poor outcome group than those in the good outcome (p=0.010) and control groups (p=0.006). On postnatal day 7, serum tau protein levels again were significantly higher in the poor outcome group than those in the good outcome (p=0.007) and control groups (p=0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings indicate serum tau protein levels measured on postnatal days 3 and 7 can predict neurological prognosis following neonatal asphyxia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan. Electronic address: peizaemon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeba
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinnosuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichiyama
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016875:tau Proteins
keywords: Hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy; Neonatal asphyxia; Neurological outcome; Tau protein