OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) and cognitive impairment are severe complications following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuroinflammation likely contributes, but the role of specific inflammatory mediators requires clarification. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an inflammatory cytokine released after brain injury that may be involved. This prospective longitudinal study investigated whether serum HMGB1 levels are associated with PTE development and cognitive decline over 12 months post-TBI.
METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 41 TBI patients, including mild and moderate to severe, at baseline, 6, and 12 months following TBI. HMGB1 was quantified by ELISA alongside interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Cognitive assessments using validated neuropsychological assessments were performed at 6 and 12 months. The occurrence of PTE was also tracked.
RESULTS: HMGB1 remained elevated at 12 months post-TBI only in the subgroup (n = 6) that developed PTE (p = 0.026). PTE was associated with moderate to severe TBI cases. Higher HMGB1 levels at 12 months correlated with a greater decline in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination scores (p
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.