Affiliations: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics,
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cincinnati, OH, USA | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center,
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics,
Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Abstract: Human genetic association studies in individuals with traumatic
brain injury (TBI) have increased rapidly over the past few years. Recently,
several review articles evaluated the association of genetics with outcomes
after TBI. However, almost all of the articles discussed in these reviews
focused on adult TBI. The primary objective of this review is to gain a better
understanding of which genes and/or genetic polymorphisms have been evaluated
in pediatric TBI. Our initial search identified 113 articles. After review of
these articles only 5 genetic association studies specific to pediatric TBI
were identified. All five of these studies evaluated the apolipoprotein (APOE)
gene. The study design and methods of these identified papers will be
discussed. An additional search was then performed to evaluate genes beyond
APOE that have been evaluated in adult TBI; findings from these studies are
highlighted. Larger genetic studies will need to be performed in the future to
better elucidate the association of APOE and other genes with outcomes after
TBI in children. There is great potential to utilized genetic information to
inform prognosis and management after TBI in children; however, we have much
work ahead of us to reach the goal of individualized management.
