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Rapid test Newly discovered biomarkers can effectively detect brain injuries
Researchers have identified inflammatory biomarkers that could lead to the development of an effective brain injury test in the first hours after an accident. For example, this new test could be carried out by paramedics directly after a sports accident at the edge of a sports field. So it would be possible to quickly recognize and successfully treat traumatic brain injuries.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham concluded that certain biomarkers allow doctors and clinicians to conduct a test in the first hours after an accident to detect any brain damage. The experts published a press release on the results of their study.
Researchers have now been able to identify specific biomarkers that indicate a traumatic brain injury. A test could in the future enable faster diagnosis after accidents, which would significantly improve treatment. (Image: denisismagilov / fotolia.com) Newly developed test can improve clinical intervention options
The novel test could be used immediately, for example, in sports accidents at the edge of the sports field to find out whether affected athletes have suffered a brain injury, the researchers say. Such an injury leads to a change in the inflammatory proteins that the test can effectively detect. The test would make it possible to detect such injuries quickly and reliably, which also leads to an improvement of the clinical intervention possibilities, explain the British authors.
Traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of neurological disabilities
Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in young adults, the researchers say. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), traumatic brain injury is the world's leading cause of neurological disability in all ages, according to author Lisa Hill of the University of Birmingham.
These biomarkers indicate traumatic brain injury
The study identified three inflammatory biomarkers in traumatic brain injury known as CST5, AXIN1 and TRAIL. CST5 was identified in patients with severe traumatic brain injury within the first hour of injury. In addition, the rapid identification of AXIN1 and TRAIL could result in the detection of possible brain injury in patient controls within an hour.
Early diagnosis facilitates effective treatment
An early and objective diagnosis of traumatic brain injury would facilitate clinical decision-making for further effective treatment. In addition, correct diagnosis of traumatic brain injury would allow physicians to implement new strategies for reducing so-called secondary brain injury, the authors explain.
So far, biomarkers can not diagnose the severity of traumatic brain injury
There are currently no reliable biomarkers to diagnose the severity of traumatic brain injury in patients, say the researchers. It has also been impossible to identify patients at risk for secondary injuries. Such secondary injuries can impair brain function, damage other brain structures and even promote further cell death, the researchers explain.
Results will affect drug development
The results have potential implications for drug development as new drugs could be given immediately after injury. For example, a treatment can be started at the roadside in a car accident, when a diagnosis reliably detects a traumatic brain injury, the scientists explain. (As)