Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

Book excerpt: Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury provides a comprehensive overview on the selection and implementation of serum-based and saliva-based biomarkers for traumatic brain injury. The book presents an economic analysis for implementing TBI biomarkers into clinical practice. In addition, it discusses the analytical tools needed to implement TBI biomarkers, including specifications for testing instruments and interpretative software. Neurologists, emergency department physicians, intensivists, and clinical laboratorians will find this book a great resource from which to familiarize themselves with the issues and processes regarding TBI biomarkers. Approximately 2 million people in the U.S. sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year with over 250,000 hospitalizations and 50,000 deaths. There has been a significant rise in interest in diagnosing mild concussions, particularly in the sports world. While imaging has been the gold standard, these procedures are costly and not always available. There is great potential in using serum-based biomarkers, hence the book seeks to enlighten readers on new possibilities. Offers strategies for the selection and implementation of traumatic brain injury biomarkers Discusses the importance of autoantibodies and post translational modifications for TBI Covers the analytical tools needed to implement TBI biomarkers, including the specifications for testing instruments and interpretative software