Changes of serum neuron specific enolase and S100-β protein and their correlations with cognitive impairment in patients with moderate traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective To analyze the correlation of the levels of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S100-β protein with cognitive impairment in patients with moderate traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Methods A retrospective case series study enrolled 87 patients with mTBI treated from January 2015 to October 2016. There were 50 males and 37 females, aged 14-60 years [(37.8±12.6)years]. The Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 9-12 points, among which were 9-10 points in 36 cases and 11-12 points in 51. The cognitive function was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). The patients with MoCA<26 points were assigned into cognitive impairment group (study group, 54 cases), while the patients with MoCA ≥ 26 points was assigned into non-cognitive-impairment group (control group, 33 cases). The levels of serum NSE and S100-β protein were compared, and the correlation of levels of serum NSE and S100-β protein with cognitive dysfunction (assessed by MoCA and GCS) was analyzed. Results The levels of serum NSE and S100-βprotein were (35.7±11.0)ng/L and (1.8±0.5)ng/L, respectively in study group, which were significant higher than that in control group [(22.6±9.4)ng/L and (1.2±0.5)ng/L, respectively] (P<0.01). The levels of NSE [(33.7±10.0)ng/L] and S100-β [(1.7±0.4)ng/L] in patients with GCS 9-10 points were higher than those of NSE [(19.4±9.0)ng/L]and S100-β [(1.3±0.5)ng/L] in patients with GCS 11-12 points (P<0.01). The levels of serum NSE and S100-β protein in mTBI patients were negatively correlated with the MoCA score (r=-0.693, -0.721, P<0.05) and GCS (r=-0.527, -0.796, P<0.05). Conclusion The levels of serum NSE and S100-β protein are increased, and are correlated to the occurrence of cognitive impairment in patient with mTBI. Key words: Craniocerebral trauma; Cognition disorders; S100-β proteins; Neuron specific enolase