Blood test detects brain damage after head injury:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
A simple blood test performed soon after a mild head injury could help detect brain damage that might be missed using imaging scans, according to a German study. Researchers at the University of Leipzig found that blood levels of a protein called S-100B rose with the severity of brain injury (as confirmed on a computed tomography scan). A six-month follow-up of the patients also suggested that S-100B levels could predict patient recovery and serve as a marker for the effectiveness of ongoing therapy. The study appears in the September issue of Neurosurgery.