Validity of serum tau protein levels in pediatric patients with minor head trauma

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between intracranial injury and serum tau protein levels in pediatric patients with minor head trauma (MHT). Methods We included 60 pediatric patients with MHT (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS], 14-15) and 28 control patients. The patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: those without (group 1) and with (group 2) intracranial lesions shown on cranial computed tomography (CCT) and the control group (group 3). Results The mean serum tau protein level was 96.06 ± 70.36 pg/mL in group 1, whereas it was 112.04 ± 52.66 pg/mL in group 2, with no statistically significant difference between the groups ( p = .160). The mean serum tau protein levels between the study groups (group 1 and group 2) and control (38.52 ± 29.01) were statistically significant ( P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). The GCS score and pathologic condition in CCT were only influential variables on tau protein levels. Conclusions We found that serum tau protein increased after MHT but did not distinguish between those with and those without intracranial lesions demonstrable on CCT.