Indian Journal of Neurotrauma 2017; 14(01): 026-034
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604486
Original Article
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

“Cleaved Tau Protein”: A Novel Biomarker Candidate in Mild Neurotrauma in Emergency Settings

Sharad Pandey
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Kulwant Singh
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Deepa Pandey
2   Department of Clinical Microbiology, Central Hospital, Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Gian Chand
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Vivek Sharma
1   Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Ravi Prakash Jha
3   Department of Community Medicine, Division of Biostatistics, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Royana Singh
4   Department of Anatomy, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Sunil Kumar Rai
4   Department of Anatomy, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
,
Rashmi Gupta
4   Department of Anatomy, Sir Sunder Lal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Publikationsverlauf

04. Februar 2017

15. Juni 2017

Publikationsdatum:
03. August 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Background Neurotrauma has been labeled as a “silent epidemic” affecting both the developed and the developing nations. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans leads to the proteolytic cleavage of tau protein called cleaved tau (C-tau) protein. The objectives of the study are to the role of serum cleaved tau (C-tau/τC) protein as a biomarker in patients with mild TBI and correlate it with the clinical progression (GCS) and clinical outcome (GOS) in emergency settings.

Materials and Methods The study has been approved by the institutional ethical committee. The study included 40 cases with mild TBI and 40 controls. C-tau protein levels were measured in venous samples in emergency using human cleaved microtubule-associated protein tau ELISA kit (by CUSABIO).

Results The mean serum C-tau protein level in cases was 44.76 ± 23.10 pg/mL (range: 12.32–96.44, 95% CI: 37.37–52.15) and controls was 33.82 ± 13.65 pg/mL, (range: 2.48–66.54, 95% CI: 29.46–38.19, p = 0.091). At admission the mean serum C-tau level was 65.15 ± 22.41, 43.87 ± 9.67, 26.15 ± 9.13 pg/mL in patients with GCS 13, 14, and 15, respectively. Serum cleaved tau protein levels in the good outcome group were significantly lower, that is, 40.77 ± 19.63 pg/mL (mean ± SD) (range: 12.32–88.71, 95% CI: 34.13–47.42) compared with the poor-outcome group 80.66 ± 23.10 pg/mL (mean ± SD) (range: 46.55–96.44, 95% CI: 43.88–117.43, p = 0.004).

Conclusion In this study, serum C-tau levels in patients with mild TBI were comparatively higher than those in the controls. Reaching a definitive conclusion will be too early and beyond the scope of this study. Thus, more studies are required in identifying its role as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in mild TBI.

Funding

No funding was received and nothing to disclose.


Ethical Approval

The study has been approved by the institutional ethical committee (Reference No. Dean/2014–15/EC/423). All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee. Patients/family member gave informed consent prior to the inclusion in the study.