Serum S100A12 as a prognostic biomarker of severe traumatic brain injury

S100A12 is related to acute brain injury and inflammation. We investigated the clinical prognostic value of serum S100A12 in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).

Serum S100A12, S100B, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations were measured in 102 healthy controls and 102 sTBI patients. We recorded 30-day mortality and in-hospital major adverse events (IMAEs) including acute lung injury, acute traumatic coagulopathy, progressive hemorrhagic injury and posttraumatic cerebral infarction. Trauma severity was assessed by admission Glasgow Coma Scale scores.

When compared to the controls, serum S100A12, S100B, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were significantly increased in the patients. Serum concentrations of S100A12 significantly correlated with admission Glasgow Coma Scale scores and serum concentrations of S100B, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α. Patients with any IMAEs or non-survivors within 30 days had obviously higher serum concentrations of S100A12, S100B, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α than other remaining ones. Serum S100A2 was independently associated with IMAEs and 30-day mortality and overall survival. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that S100A12 concentrations had significant discriminatory ability for patients at risk of any IMAEs and death within 30 days.

S100A12 might be associated with brain inflammation and evaluation of serum concentrations of S100A12 could be helpful in the early prognostic prediction in sTBI patients.