The Clinical Value of Serum Tau Protein in Sepsis-associated Encephalopathy Patients
Suleyman Turedi1, Bengu Dasdibi1, Suha Turkmen1, Yunus Karaca1, Ozgur Tatli1, Ahmet Mentese2, Gurdal Yilmaz3, Abdulkadir Gunduz1
1Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty Of Medicine, Department Of Emergency Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey
2Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty Of Medicine, Department Of Biochemistry, Trabzon, Turkey
3Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty Of Medicine, Department Of Infectious Diseases And Clinical Microbiology, Trabzon, Turkey
Keywords: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy, Tau protein
Abstract
Background: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is the most widespread metabolic encephalopathy and is still generally evaluated using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Objectives: Easily obtainable, effective and practical biochemical markers will be of considerable use in the evaluation of SAE. This study was intended to determine the clinical value of serum Tau protein, a modern biochemical marker, in sepsis/SAE patients. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated patients applying to the emergency department between 01.02.2009 and 30.07.2009 and diagnosed with sepsis/septic shock. It investigates the correlation between serum Tau protein levels and the development of SAE and its clinical course, mortality and morbidity.
Results: Thirty-five (50%) of the 70 patients enrolled were regarded as SAE on the basis of GCS scores determined at admission. SAE was observed to develop on the basis of GCS scores over the following days in 2 patients (2.9%). Although Tau levels were higher in the patients developing SAE than in those in whom it did not develop, the difference was not statistically significant. No significant correlation was determined between Tau levels, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and mortality.
Conclusions: We conclude that serum Tau levels do not reflect brain damage and encephalopathy in the analysis of SAE patients, that they cannot be used as a supplementary test to GCS in the diagnosis of SAE, that there is no correlation with mortality and morbidity in SAE patients and none with SOFA score.