The Effect of the Relationship of APOE Polymorphisms and Cerebral Vasospasm on Functional Outcomes in Children With Traumatic Brain Injury

Background:Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability. Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene have been linked to cerebral vasospasm (CV) and poor outcomes in adults with TBI, yet these associations remain poorly defined in children.Objective:We examined the effect of the relationship between APOE polymorphisms and CV on functional outcomes in children with a TBI.Method:This prospective, descriptive study examined 60 children (aged 10 days to 15 years) with a TBI. Data included demographic information, genetic sampling for the APOE gene and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs405509, rs429358, rs7412), and daily transcranial Doppler ultrasounds to evaluate for CV. We examined Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended Pediatrics (GOS-E Peds) scores at the time of discharge and 4–6 weeks after discharge.Results:More than half (56.7%) of the 60 children (Mage = 5.9 years) were male. Twenty-six participants (43.3%) experienced an occurrence of CV. There were signifi...