[Diagnostic biomarkers in traumatic brain injury]

Despite advances in medicine in head trauma management, traumatic brain injury (TBI) still remains a serious health concern, affecting people regardless of age. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality particularly in children and young adults. Therefore, studies are being carried out to try to establish reliable biomarkers to improve the accuracy of TBI diagnosis and associated secondary pathologies.

Implementation of valid TBI biomarkers could possibly reduce the necessity to use computed cranial tomography (CCT), especially in patients suffering from mild TBI to rule out intracranial bleeding.

This review provides a critical assessment of biomarkers currently under investigation and their clinical value for the diagnosis, treatment and outcome prediction of TBI.