The association between laboratory findings and level of consciousness in patients with traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injuries cause 14% of mortality in Iran. In this study we want to determine the relationship between laboratory findings and level of consciousness in patients with traumatic brain injury.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the data were collected by convenience sampling. 100 patients admitted to the emergency department of the 5th Azar Hospital in Gorgan, were diagnosed with brain trauma. Blood samples were taken from these patients up to 24 hours after injury, and the demographic characteristics of the patients were collected in a checklist. Data were analyzed by SPSS16 software.

The mean age of the patients was 26 ± 0.4 years. Laboratory findings in 100 patients included 73% leukocytosis, 60% increase in creatine phosphokinase (CPK), 82% increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 33% increase in ESR and 73% increase in protein acute phase (CRP). There was a significant and inverse relationship between the level of consciousness and the level of leukocytosis and creatine phosphokinase. Also, there was a significant relationship between the level of consciousness and acute phase proteins.

There was a significant correlation between the increases of three variables of parameters: leukocytes, creatine phosphokinase and acute phase proteins in patients with traumatic brain injury with decreased consciousness. Also, patients with higher level of consciousness and lower age had better prognosis. Due to the relationship between the level of consciousness and the Glasgow Outcome Scale, some laboratory findings can be used to estimate the level of consciousness and to determine the prognosis of traumatic injuries.