摘要 |
A method for determining if a patient has a traumatic brain injury includes obtaining a body specimen from the patient, determining the concentration of marinobufagenin in the body specimen, comparing the concentration of marinobufagenin to the concentration in such body specimens in normal persons, and if the marinobufagenin concentration is substantially above the concentration of a normal person, concluding traumatic brain injury exists. In a preferred embodiment, a substantial elevation is deemed to be an increase of about 30 percent above the marinobufagenin concentration of a normal person. The body specimen may be blood or urine. If a substantial elevation is deemed to exist, the magnitude from the departure from the concentration of a normal person may be employed in determining the timing and nature of treatment provided to the patient. The method may be repeated at predetermined intervals to monitor changes in the marinobufagenin with time. Corresponding apparatus is provided.
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