ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a 30-70% mortality rate. Nevertheless, controversy has been raised concerning the prognostic value of biomarkers following severe TBI. Therefore, our aim was to determine whether sFas or TNFalpha serum levels correlate with primary outcome following isolated severe TBI. METHODS: Seventeen consecutive male patients, victims of isolated severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score 3-8) and a control group consisting of 6 healthy male volunteers were enrolled in this prospective study. Clinical outcome variables of severe TBI comprised: survival, time for intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, and neurological assessment by Glasgow Outcome Scale at ICU discharge. Venous blood samples were taken at admission in the ICU. Serum sFas and TNFalpha concentrations were measured by ELISA assays. RESULTS: At admission in the ICU (mean time 10.2 h after injury), mean sFas and TNFalpha concentrations were significantly increased in the TBI (0.105 and 24.275 rhog/l, respectively) compared with the control group (0.047 and 15.475 rhog/l, respectively). However, no significant correlation was found between higher serum sFas or TNFalpha concentrations and fatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum sFas and TNFalpha levels following isolated severe TBI did not predict fatal outcome.
