A prospective study on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor as neurological marker in traumatic brain injury

Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with challenges in early diagnosis and prognosis. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key neurotrophin involved in neural survival, plasticity, and recovery, has emerged as a potential biomarker for assessing neurological damage and repair mechanisms in TBI. The aim of the study is to evaluate the correlation between serum BDNF levels and neurological outcomes in patients with varying degrees of TBI. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 72 patients out of which 36 were controls and 36 were moderate and severe TBI patients, and samples were collected at different intervals after injury. The relationship between BDNF levels, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, and clinical outcomes was assessed. Results: A total of 367 patients presented to the emergency department, out of which after selection criteria, we enrolled 36 patients, comprising 19 were moderate and 17 were severe traumatic injury cases and 36 were considered as controls. In our study, the median values of BDNF were higher in moderate head injury than in severe head injury (68.22 vs. 38.54). However, it failed to show statistical significance with a p = 0.071 at day 0. Similar was the case on day 7, wherein BDNF levels were 890.89 in moderate head injury compared to 190.21 in severe head injury without a statistically significant difference with a p = 0.128 in moderate head injury and severe head injury groups. Preliminary results suggest that serum BDNF levels markedly decrease in patients with severe TBI and may serve as an early prognostic indicator. Conclusion: BDNF levels are markedly lower in patients with TBI, and higher BDNF levels are associated with better outcomes at 1 and 3-month post-injury. Understanding the dynamic changes in BDNF can enhance therapeutic strategies and improve patient management in TBI.