Serum Neuroglobin in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: A Multicenter Case-Control Study
Khaled Saad, Hala S. M. Abdelmotogaly, Amira H. El-Ashry, Usama Mohamed El-Shokhaiby, Mohamed M. Bakr, Ahmed Beheiry, Wael Medhat Elkholy, Kawashty Ragab Mohamed, Abdel-Monem M. Hassan, Amira Elhoufey, Anas Elgenidi, Zakaria M. Abdel-Sadek, Shimaa Elwardany Aly, Wesam M. Hussein, Abdulelah Alnusayri, Mohammed S. Abdou, Thamer A. M. Alruwaili, Samaher F. TahaBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children. This study aimed to delineate the temporal profile of serum neuroglobin in children after TBI and to evaluate its utility as a potential biomarker for assessing TBI severity and predicting clinical outcomes in pediatric age groups.
METHODS:
A multicenter case-control study was conducted involving 110 children with TBI (≤18 years) admitted to 5 tertiary-care hospitals in Egypt. The study included 100 healthy children as a control group. Serum neuroglobin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 3 time points: on admission and at 24 and 72 hours thereafter. The temporal kinetics of serum neuroglobin were analyzed in relation to admission Glasgow Coma Scale scores and clinical outcomes assessed 6 months after trauma using the Glasgow Outcome Scale.
RESULTS:
Serum neuroglobin levels were significantly higher in children with TBI than in controls at admission (
CONCLUSION:
Serum neuroglobin appears to be a promising early prognostic biomarker in pediatric patients with TBI. This preliminary study supports its potential role in early risk stratification. Its rapid rise with a peak at 24 hours postinjury, together with its association with 6-month functional outcomes, supports its potential role in early risk stratification and outcome prediction.