Blood-Based Analysis of Different Tau Variants in Patients With Multiple Traumatic Injuries
Authors' conclusion
In this exploratory study among a cohort of patients with multiple traumatic injuries, levels of tau variants reflected both direct and indirect neurological injury, with BD-tau showing the most persistent elevation in the acute phase.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with multiple traumatic injuries (injury severity score ≥18), recruited December 1, 2013, to October 31, 2022214 serum samples analysed
- Participants
- 45 / 27 / 18 / 24
- Exposure
- Multiple trauma patients vs healthy controls
- Patientsn = 45
- With TBIn = 27
- Without TBIn = 18
- Controlsn = 24reference
- Outcome
- Serum concentrations of phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated tau variants (BD-tau, t-tau, p-tau217, p-tau231)
- Follow-up
- Days 0, 1, 5, and 10
Methodological detailsexploratory
- Exploratory
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Serum tau variants, patients vs controls · day 0
| Group | Value | Brain-derived tau (BD-tau), median (IQR) pg/mL | p-tau231, median (IQR) pg/mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients | median 43 (IQR 21–95) pg/mL | 78 (30-343) | 61 (21-79) |
| Controls | median 3 (IQR 3–5) pg/mL | 2 (2-3) | 2 (1-3) |
Value
Patientsmedian 43 (IQR 21–95) pg/mL
Controlsmedian 3 (IQR 3–5) pg/mL
Brain-derived tau (BD-tau), median (IQR) pg/mL
Patients78 (30-343)
Controls2 (2-3)
p-tau231, median (IQR) pg/mL
Patients61 (21-79)
Controls2 (1-3)
- Patients vs Controls: P < 0.001 — t-tau, BD-tau and p-tau231, all
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Tau at admission by GCS score (lower vs higher)Lower GCS vs Higher GCS | median BD-tau 107 [ IQR, 59-838] vs 33 [IQR, 24-78] pg/mL | P = 0.01 |
| Tau at admission by GCS score (lower vs higher)Lower GCS vs Higher GCS | median p-tau231 76 [IQR, 36-114] vs 28 [IQR, 9-63] pg/mL | P = 0.02 |
| BD-tau, hemorrhagic shock vs no shock · day 0 | median BD-tau 113 [IQR, 78-378] vs 31 [IQR, 24-61] pg/mL | P = 0.002 |
| BD-tau, nonsurvivors vs survivors with uncomplicated courses · day 1 | median BD-tau 92 [IQR, 22-527] vs 16 [IQR, 7-23] pg/mL | P = 0.009 |
- BD-tau over time in patients · days 1, 5, 10
- 25 · median · IQR 14–69 · pg/mL
- BD-tau over time in patients: value = day 1
BD-tau over time in patients · days 1, 5, 10
- Only BD-tau remained elevated until day 10
Original publication
Blood-Based Analysis of Different Tau Variants in Patients With Multiple Traumatic Injuries. JAMA Netw Open. Published 2 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →