Severe head trauma and the changes of concentration of neuron-specific enolase in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid.

In nine patients with severe head trauma, the concentration of neuron-specific enolase in cerebrospinal fluid and in plasma was determined and compared with the activity of creatine kinase and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and with the concentration of lactate. In patients who died of the head trauma, a concentration of neuron-specific enolase of 6.8-64 micrograms/l in the plasma (reference range: 3.0-6.0 micrograms/l) and of 2.2-9.0 micrograms/l in the cerebrospinal fluid (reference range: 0.5-2.0 micrograms/l) was detected. Investigations of three patients showed that the changes of the concentration of neuron-specific enolase in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid were independent of each other. Furthermore, the initial concentration of neuron-specific enolase in the plasma after the accident and the dynamics of its changes during the disease show a close relationship to the outcome.