Neurochemical Biomarkers in Spinal Cord Injury: A Narrative Review; [نشانگرهای زیستی عصبی- شیمیایی در آسیب طناب نخاعی: یک مطالعه روایی] Publisher



Yaghoubi F ; Mashayekhi S ; Sabet HS ; Alijanizade P ; Saleki K ; Pestehei SK ; Jafarian M
Source: Neuroscience Journal of Shefaye Khatam Published:2025

Abstract

Introduction: Despite substantial advances in clinical care, spinal cord injuries and their associated persistent complications remain an incurable condition, with devastating phys ical and psychological consequences for patients and caregivers. Clinical diagnosis of spinal cord injuries is mainly based on the neurological deficits. In recent years, imaging techniques have been used to evaluate acute spinal cord injuries. However, in many cen ters, advanced imaging techniques are not available, or the patient’s unstable condition limits using advance approaches. Since reliable prediction of recovery in the acute phase is cru cial for selecting appropriate neuroprotective treatment, there is an urgent need to identify and implement new methods for more accurate prediction and planning to reduce permanent complications. Identifying biomarkers to predict spinal cord injury helps the management of injured patients and supports accurate diagnosis and treatment. Some proteins have been identified as promising biomarkers for central nervous system injury, both in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood serum. This review aims to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic roles of these proteins and neurostructural biomarkers in spinal cord injury. Conclusion: The identification of biochemical biomarkers is becoming increasingly valuable in the manage ment of spinal cord injury. These markers have significant potential to assess the severi ty of primary injury objectively, predict neurological outcome, and monitor recovery and secondary complications. Studies show that biomarker levels in blood serum and CSF cor relate with injury severity as measured by standardized clinical scales and can distinguish between patients with good and poor prognoses. Due to the limited accessibility and inva sive nature of CSF sampling, research has increasingly focused on identifying reliable se rum-based biomarkers. Furthermore, the distinct temporal dynamics of biomarker expression in the acute phase (reflecting primary injury) versus the chronic phase (influenced by sys temic complications) highlight the need to define specific markers appropriate to each stage. © 2025, Shefa Neuroscience Research Center. All rights reserved.