Progress in predicting TBI severity

It is not always obvious how a traumatic brain injury (TBI) will pan out. On some occasions, they seem to heal on their own, and the person is soon back at work and able to carry on life as normal. On other occasions, they cause lifelong damage that complicates the lives of the person and their family forever.

Obviously, those who suffer a TBI and those who love them will be anxious to find out where along the scale the injury will lie. It has often been extremely difficult for doctors to predict this. A recent study gives a ray of hope.

Running a quick blood test could be the answer

Three U.S. universities worked together on research into this topic. They believe a simple blood test could hold the key, provided it is applied to the TBI victim within 24 hours of their injury occurring. Once the blood sample is taken, it needs to be tested for two specific protein biomarkers known as GFAP and UCH-L1.

The research team found evidence that the presence of large amounts of these two markers predicts death or severe injury due to the TBI. If doctors see this, they can prioritize getting these patients a CT scan to see if there is any way they can intervene.

They can also the test as an indicator they need to prepare the patient and their family for the worst and avoid getting their hopes of recovery up.

The earlier an injury is fully identified, and the sooner the total consequences are known, the sooner appropriate compensation can be determined.