Determination of serum prealbumin and retinol-binding protein in patients with acute traumatic brain injury and its clinical significance

Objective To determine the serum prealbumin(PA),retinol-binding protein(RBP),albumin (ALB)and total protein(TP)levels in patients with traumatic brain injury,so as to analyze the sensitivity of visceral proteins in reflecting the stress state after traumatic brain injury and its correlation with patients' prognoses.Methods The serum PA,RBP,ALB,and TP levels were determined in 138 patients with acute traumatic brain injury within 12 b after injury;GCS scores were also given to the patients;the relationship between the above parameters with the prognosis was analyzed by the multiple Logistic Regression analysis. Results The levels of serum PA,RBP,ALB and TP of the patients with traumatic brain injury were (0.222±0.057),(0.030±0.008),(39.75±5.66)and(63.44±8.56)g/L,respectively,which were significantly lower than those of the control group(being[0.297±0.046],[0.049±0.010],[43.95±5.50]and[68.97±4.96]g/L,respectively,all P0.01).The levels of serum visceral proteins were decreased significantly in the case group(P0.01).The serum RBP,ALB,and TP levels in the severe injury group([0.028±0.009], [37.66±6.62]and[59.70±8.69]g/L,respectively)were significantly lower than those in the mildly injury group([0.031±0.008],[40.84±5.04]and[65.37±7.87]g/L,respectively,P0.05,0.01).PA levels were similar between the 2 groups.Logistic Regression results suggested that the levels of ALB(OR=0.858, P0.01)and PA(OR=0.979,P0.0])within 12h after injury significantly correlated with prognosis.The regression equation(P[1-P]=EXP[9.53-0.15x_2-0.02x_3][x_2=ALB,x_3=PA],P=0.7019) demonstrated that the lower the levels of ALB and PA,the worse the prognoses of the patients.Conclusion Compared with the traditional test of ALB,tests of PA and RBP are more sensitive in reflecting the stress state caused by traumatic brain injury.