Neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein as biomarkers for sepsis-associated delirium: a cross-sectional pilot study

Neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein as biomarkers for sepsis-associated delirium: a cross-sectional pilot study

ABSTRACT Objective Sepsis-associated delirium is a common cerebral manifestation in patients with sepsis, potentially caused by a combination of neuroinflammation and other neurophysiological disorders. This study investigated the expression of neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein as biomarkers...

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Main Authors: Agnes Araújo Sardinha Pinto, Maira Mello de Carvalho, Juliana Bahia Santos, Rebeca Souza da Silva, Hermes Vieira Barbeiro, Luz Marina Gómez Gómez, Ian Ward Abdalla Maia, Júlio Flávio Meirelles Marchini, Flávia Barreto Garcez, Thiago Junqueira Avelino-Silva, Lucas de Moraes Soler, Matheus Menão Mochetti, Heraldo Possolo de Souza, Júlio Cesar Garcia Alencar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein 2025-04-01
Series:Einstein (São Paulo)
Subjects:
Biomarkers
Delirium
Emergency medicine
Neuroinflammatory diseases
Sepsis
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-45082025000100217&lng=en&tlng=en
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Summary:ABSTRACT Objective Sepsis-associated delirium is a common cerebral manifestation in patients with sepsis, potentially caused by a combination of neuroinflammation and other neurophysiological disorders. This study investigated the expression of neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein as biomarkers in patients with sepsis-associated delirium. While neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein are known to be associated with brain injury, their diagnostic potential in patients with sepsis-associated delirium is not well understood. Methods This cross-sectional pilot study evaluated plasma levels of neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein in patients with delirium and sepsis to explore their potential for identifying sepsis in patients admitted to the emergency department. Results A total of 25 patients with delirium were analyzed, 56% of whom had sepsis. Patients with sepsis exhibited significantly higher neuron-specific enolase levels (2.7ng/mL [95%CI= 2.2-3.2] versus 1.3 ng/mL [95%CI= 0.8-2.5], p<0.003) and Tau protein levels (96.1pg/mL [95%CI= 77.0-111.3] versus 43.0pg/mL [95%CI= 31.2-84.5], p<0.003) compared to patients without sepsis. Neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein thresholds of >2.08ng/mL and >59.27pg/mL, respectively, demonstrated 90% specificity for identifying sepsis in patients. Conclusion Neuron-specific enolase and Tau protein levels were significantly higher in patients with sepsis than in those without, underscoring their potential ability to identify the infectious etiology of delirium in older patients admitted to emergency departments. Clinical Trials #RBR-233bct.
ISSN:2317-6385

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