Which Biomarker is most Effective to Determine Severity of Acute Head Trauma in the Experimental Animal Head Trauma Model?

Aim: Because of the need for effective method to determine the severity of head trauma, the importance of biomarkers is recognized recently. This study aims to analyze the values of sera levels of some biomarkers and the relation with their tissue levels in acute head injury.

Material And Methods: In this study, rats were divided into three groups (mild head trauma, severe head trauma and control group). All rats were anaesthetized. Weightdrop method was used as trauma method. Blood samples were obtained five minutes after trauma when the acute effects of trauma occurred. Then whole brains of rats were excised. Levels of biomarkers were investigated in the sera samples and homogenized brain tissues biochemically.

Results: Significant differences in the sera GFAP (p=0.015) and insulin (p=0.011) levels were observed. Very significant difference in the sera nNOS level was observed. Extremely significant difference in the tissue IL-6 (p < 0.001) level was observed between all groups.

Conclusion: Sera nNOS and tissue IL-6 are the best biomarkers to predict trauma severity. Sera GFAP and insulin are also capable to show trauma severity in the very acute period of postinjury. Tissue levels of the biomarkers except insulin are higher than their sera levels.