Role of signal peptide-Cub-Egf domain-containing protein-1 in serum as a predictive biomarker of outcome after severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract

BackgroundSignal peptide-Cub-Epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE1), a marker for coagulation, is secreted under hypoxia and inflammatory conditions from platelet α granules. This study was designed to determine the associations of serum SCUBE1 concentrations with trauma severity and prognosis after severe traumatic brain injury. MethodsSerum SCUBE1 concentrations of 113 patients and 113 controls were measured. An unfavorable outcome was defined as Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 1–3. ResultsSerum SCUBE1 concentrations were significantly higher in patients than in controls (15.5±6.0 vs. 1.1±0.3ng/ml, P<0.001) and were associated with Glasgow coma scale scores (r=−0.439, P<0.001) and blood platelet count (r=0.420, P<0.001). SCUBE1 was identified as an independent prognostic marker of 6-month unfavorable outcome (odds ratio, 1.357; 95% confidence interval, 1.159–1.589; P<0.001), and had high predictive value according to receiver operating characteristic curve (area under curve, 0.830; 95% confidence interval, 0.748–0.890; P<0.001). ConclusionsIncreased serum SCUBE1 concentrations are associated highly with trauma severity, platelet activation and poor outcome, suggesting that SCUBE1 might be a novel prognostic biomarker after traumatic brain injury.