A point-of-care screening blood test may be on the way.
The diagnosis of abusive head trauma (AHT) is missed in approximately 30% of pediatric victims, increasing the risk for recurrent, escalating abuse. These authors previously validated a clinical decision rule to identify children at high risk for occult intracranial hemorrhage (ICH; NEJM JW Emerg Med Aug 2016 and Pediatrics 2016; 138:e20153756). Now, they tested whether a panel of serum biomarkers can identify acute ICH in infants with nonspecific symptoms that have been linked to missed AHT (well-appearing, afebrile infant with apparent life-threatening event [ALTE], vomiting without diarrhea, seizure-like activity, bruising or scalp swelling, or nonspecific neurological complaints).
Data from a cohort of 99 infants (48 with ICH from AHT an…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; MINDSOURCE
Editorial BoardsThe Quarterly Update: Reviews of Current Child Abuse Medical Research; Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesThe Helfer Society (Executive Committee Member)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; MINDSOURCE
Editorial BoardsThe Quarterly Update: Reviews of Current Child Abuse Medical Research; Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesThe Helfer Society (Executive Committee Member)