Assessment of plasma homocysteine levels in patients with craniocerebral injury and prognosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with craniocerebral injury. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of data from patients with craniocerebral injury who underwent surgery. Patients were stratified according to the extent of the craniocerebral injury into severe, moderate and mild craniocerebral injury groups. Serum Hcy and CRP levels were determined at admission, at 7 days after treatment and at 3 months after injury. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were undertaken to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: The study enrolled 96 patients: 29 patients with mild injury; 33 patients with moderate injury; and 34 patients with severe injury. Serum Hcy and CRP levels at admission were significantly higher in the severe craniocerebral injury group than in the other two groups; and they were significantly higher the moderate craniocerebral injury group compared with the mild craniocerebral injury group. Serum Hcy and CRP levels of the three groups of patients were significantly lower after 7 days of treatment than those before treatment. The levels of Hcy and CRP were positively correlated in all three groups. CONCLUSION: Serum Hcy and CRP levels in patients could be used to monitor the condition and prognosis of patients with craniocerebral injury.