LAUSR

OBJECTIVE There is a need for accurate biomarkers to monitor EEG activity and assess seizure risk in patients with acute brain injury. Seizure recurrence may lead to cellular alterations and subsequent neurological sequels. We investigated whether Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) and S100-beta (S100B), brain injury biomarkers, can reflect EEG activity and help to evaluate the seizure risk. METHODS We included 11 patients, admitted to an intensive care unit for refractory status epilepticus, who underwent a minimum of 3 days of continuous EEG, concomitantly with daily serum NSE and S100B assays. We investigated on 103 days the relationships between serum NSE and S100B levels and two EEG scores to monitor the seizure risk. We looked for biochemical biomarker thresholds able to predict seizure recurrence. RESULTS Only NSE levels positively correlated with EEG scores. Similar temporal dynamics were observed for the time courses of EEG scores and NSE levels. NSE levels above 17 ng/mL were associated with seizure in 71% of patients. An increase of more than 15% of NSE levels was associated with seizure recurrence in 80% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the potential of NSE as a biomarker of EEG activity and to assess risk of seizure recurrence.