Role of Salivary Biomarkers in Predicting Significant Traumatic Brain Injury: An Exploratory Study

Pediatric Emergency Care
Claudia YeungMadhumita Sinha

Abstract

The highest rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related morbidity and mortality occur in young children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to describe the levels of 3 biomarkers (S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neuron-specific enolase) in saliva of children with TBI requiring inpatient admission at a pediatric trauma center and compare these levels in children without TBI. A convenience sample of 24 children aged 0 to 18 years, presenting with acute isolated TBI, was enrolled prospectively. The non-TBI comparison groups consisted of patients with medical complaints and musculoskeletal injuries only. Salivary specimens were collected, and biomarkers were measured using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Demographic, clinical data, and brain imaging findings were obtained. Seventy-four children were enrolled. Twenty-four had TBI (mean age, 5.07 years; SD, 4.8 years); 14 subjects (58.3%) with TBI were found to have significant traumatic brain injury (SBI) on computed tomography scan. S100B levels were significantly higher in TBI group compared with those with musculoskeletal injury only (median, 113.2 pg/mL vs 18 pg/mL; P = 0.021). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve f...Continue Reading

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