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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: May 27, 2022
THE NEURONAL BIOMARKER NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE CORRELATES WITH THE VOLUME OF LUNG CONTUSION IN POLYTRAUMATIZED
Anna Carola Rix1, Philipp Störmann, Jan Tilmann Vollrath
1Department of Trauma-, Hand- and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
Insights
Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels rise after thoracic trauma (TT), peaking on admission. Serum NSE correlates with lung contusion severity, showing predictive value for pulmonary damage.
Area of Science:
- Trauma research
- Biomarker discovery
- Pulmonary medicine
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and thoracic trauma (TT) are leading causes of death in younger individuals.
- Rapid diagnostics are crucial for effective treatment and prognosis.
- Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is investigated as a potential biomarker for lung injury following blunt TT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as a biomarker for lung injury in patients with isolated thoracic trauma (TT).
- To assess the correlation between serum NSE levels and the severity of pulmonary contusion.
- To compare NSE levels in TT patients with those in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 2014-2020 at a level 1 trauma center.
- Serum NSE and interleukin (IL-6, IL-10) levels were measured in 41 injured patients (30 TT, 11 TBI) from day 0 to 5 post-trauma.
- Lung injury extent was quantified using Hounsfield scale on CT scans.
Main Results:
- Serum NSE concentration in TT patients peaked on admission (8.51 ± 3.68 ng/mL) compared to controls (4.51 ± 1.504 ng/mL, P < 0.001).
- Both isolated TT and TBI showed significant NSE release on admission.
- A significant linear relationship (r = 0.636, P = 0.035) was found between serum NSE levels and pulmonary contusion severity.
Conclusions:
- Significant NSE release occurs after isolated TT, peaking on the day of admission.
- Serum NSE concentration correlates with the extent of pulmonary contusion, indicating predictive value.
- NSE does not appear to have diagnostic value as a TBI biomarker when TT is also present.
Abstract:
Background: Severe injuries caused by accidents, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) or thoracic trauma (TT), continue to be the leading cause of death in younger people with relevant socioeconomic impact. Fast and targeted diagnostics is essential for further therapy decisions and prognosis. The following study investigates neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as a potential biomarker for lung injury after blunt TT. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a level 1 trauma center from 2014 to 2020. Serum levels of NSE and ILs (IL-6, IL-10) in injured patients (n = 41) with isolated TT (Abbreviated Injury Scale score of the thorax ≥3) compared with isolated TBI (Abbreviated Injury Scale score of the head ≥3) were assessed from days 0 to 5 after trauma. The extent of lung injury was quantified by Hounsfield scale in computed tomography scans. Results : Thirty patients with TT (median Injury Severity Score = 20, age 50 ± 17 years, 83.3% were male) and 11 patients with TBI (median Injury Severity Score = 25, age 54 ± 17 years, 27.3% were male) were included. After TT, NSE concentration increased initially after trauma with a peak value on the day of admission (8.51 ± 3.68 ng/mL) compared with healthy controls (4.51 ± 1.504 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Isolated TT and TBI lead to equally strong NSE release ad the day of admission. There is a significant linear relationship ( r = 0.636, P = 0.035) between serum NSE levels and severity of pulmonary contusion at the time of admission and after 24 h. Conclusion : A significant NSE release after isolated TT peaks on the day of admission. The extent of lung contusion volume (defined as alveolar parenchymal density) correlates with NSE serum concentration. Thus, NSE has predictive value for the extent of pulmonary contusion. However, according to these data, NSE seems to have no diagnostic value as a TBI biomarker in concomitant TT.
