Citation

Gao W, Lu C, Kochanek PM, Berger RP. Pediatr. Res. 2014; 76(3): 280-286.

Affiliation

1] Safar Center for Resuscitation Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA [2] Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1038/pr.2014.86

PMID

24941216

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Abusive head trauma (AHT) is the leading cause of death from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in infants and young children. Identification of mild AHT (Glasgow Coma Scale Score 13-15) is difficult because children present with non-specific symptoms and with no history of trauma.

METHODS:Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis combined with mass spectrometry was used to compare the serum protein profile of children with mild AHT and age-matched controls. Protein changes were confirmed by Western blots. Western blots were performed using serum from children with mild, moderate and severe AHT to assess the effect of injury severity on protein intensity. The protein identified - serum amyloid A (SAA) - was then measured by ELISA.

RESULTS:Using serum from 18 mild AHT cases and 20 controls, there were approximately 1,000 protein spots; 2 were significantly different between groups. Both spots were identified as SAA. There was no relationship between protein levels and injury severity. SAA concentrations measured by ELISA were increased in cases vs. controls.

CONCLUSION:SAA may be a potential biomarker to identify children with mild AHT who present for medical care without a history of trauma and who might otherwise not be recognized as needing a head CT.Pediatric Research (2014); doi:10.1038/pr.2014.86.

Language: en