Serum apelin-13 and risk of death following severe traumatic brain injury

Background: Apelin-13 can be expressed in brain tissue and exert neuroprotective effects. We attempted to determine whether serum apelin-13 is a prognostic biomarker for severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Methods: Of 126 sTBI patients and 126 healthy controls, serum apelin-13 concentrations were quantified using ELISA. The trauma severity was assessed by Glasgow coma scale scores and Rotterdam computerized tomography scores. The relationship between serum apelin-13 concentrations and posttraumatic 30-day mortality was assessed using multivariate analysis. Results: Serum apelin-13 concentrations were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Serum apelin-13 concentrations of non-surviving and surviving patients within posttraumatic 30 days were strongly correlated with Glasgow coma scale scores and Rotterdam computerized tomography scores. Serum apelin-13 emerged as an independent predictor for 30-day mortality and overall survival. There was a significant discriminatory capability with respect to serum apelin-13 concentrations for the risk of 30-day death. Moreover, its prognostic predictive ability was similar to those of Glasgow coma scale scores and Rotterdam computerized tomography scores. Conclusions: Declined serum apelin-13 concentrations, in substantial correlation with increasing severity, are independently associated with short-term mortality, hinting than serum apelin-13 might represent a useful prognostic biomarker for sTBI.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that serum Apelin-13 concentration may serve as a prognostic biomarker for severe traumatic brain injury. The decline in serum Apelin-13 concentration is closely associated with increasing severity and can independently predict short-term mortality in patients with sTBI.