title: Biomarkers of spinal cord injury and ensuing bladder dysfunction.
abstract: During the acute phase of SCI, the extension and residual neurological deficits that will persist after the waning of the spinal shock period are difficult to estimate on clinical grounds. Therefore, objective biomarkers able to estimate the extension of the lesion and the degree of neurological recovery are of great importance. Research has been focused on the detection of structural neuronal and glial proteins that leak from damaged cells, inflammatory proteins recruited to remove necrotic debris and more accurate neuroimaging methods that are able to discriminate the extension and functional consequences of the SCI. Urinary biomarkers are also being investigated to estimate functional changes that typically affect bladder function following SCI which can endanger patient's life in the long run. Future studies are needed to precisely characterize the composition and function of the glial scar that appears in the area of SCI and repeals axonal growth, therefore preventing axonal rewiring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Medicine of Porto, University of Porto, Portugal; Translational NeuroUrology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Célia Duarte
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Medicine of Porto, University of Porto, Portugal; Translational NeuroUrology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Department of Renal, Infectious and Urological Disorders, Faculty of Medicine of Porto, University of Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: Translational NeuroUrology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Department of Renal, Infectious and Urological Disorders, Faculty of Medicine of Porto, University of Porto, Portugal; Department of Urology, Hospital de S. João, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antunes-Lopes
authors.affiliation: Translational NeuroUrology, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Department of Renal, Infectious and Urological Disorders, Faculty of Medicine of Porto, University of Porto, Portugal; Department of Urology, Hospital de S. João, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: cruzfjmr@med.up.pt.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins
keywords: Inflammatory biomarkers; Neurogenic detrusor overactivity; Neuroimaging; Regeneration; Spinal cord injury; Structural biomarkers; Urinary bladder