Biomarkers of traumatic injury

Abstract

Biomarkers are physiological indicators of a biological or disease state. While clinical measurements such as blood pressure and body temperature, and results from diagnostic imaging can be considered biomarkers, the term is generally reserved for the measure of biological molecules in samples taken from either the affected tissue or body fluids. These markers can be altered enzymatic activities, changes in gene or protein expression level, alterations in protein or lipid post-translational modifications, the appearance/disappearance of metabolites, or a combination of these changes. In this chapter, we discuss currently used and prospective biomarkers in the brain and other organs commonly subject to traumatic injury.