The ability to make an accurate prognosis, which is a prerequisite for treatment decisions, is very limited in dogs with traumatic brain injury (TBI). To determine whether serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) have prognostic value in dogs following TBI, we conducted a prospective, observational, controlled clinical study in an intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital. The study population comprised 24 dogs admitted to the hospital within 72 h of a known event of TBI between January 2010 and January 2015, as well as 25 control healthy shelter dogs admitted for elective neutering. Seventeen injured dogs (70%) survived to discharge, four were euthanized and three died within 48 h. Serum samples were obtained from all dogs (in injured dogs, within 72 h of TBI) and NSE concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immonosorbent assay. Associations between NSE levels and outcome, Modified Glasgow Coma Scale, time to sampling, age or haemolysis scale were determined. Mean serum NSE concentrations were decreased in dogs with TBI compared with healthy controls (19.4 ± 4.14 ng/ml vs. 24.9 ± 4.6 ng/ml, P <0.001). No association was found between serum NSE concentrations and either survival or severity of neurological impairment. A negative correlation was found between serum NSE concentrations and time from trauma to blood collection (r = −0.50, P = 0.022). These results indicate that serum NSE concentration in dogs following TBI is not an effective marker for severity or outcome. Further studies are warranted to standardize serum NSE measurements in dogs and to determine the peak and half-life levels of this potential biomarker.

做出准确预后的能力（这是决定治疗的先决条件）在脑外伤（TBI）的狗中非常有限。为了确定TBI后犬中神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）的血清浓度是否具有预后价值，我们在大学教学医院的重症监护室进行了前瞻性，观察性，对照临床研究。研究人群包括2010年1月至2015年1月在已知的TBI事件发生后72小时内入院的24只狗，以及25例因择期结扎而入院的健康对照避难犬。十七只受伤的狗（70％）存活下来，对四只狗实施了安乐死，三只在48小时内死亡。从所有的狗（受伤的狗，在TBI 72小时内）和NSE浓度使用酶联免疫吸附测定法进行测量。确定了NSE水平与预后，改良的格拉斯哥昏迷量表，采样时间，年龄或溶血量表之间的关联。与健康对照组相比，患有TBI的狗的平均血清NSE浓度降低了（19.4±4.14 ng / ml对24.9±4.6 ng / ml，P <0.001）。血清NSE浓度与神经功能障碍的存活率或严重程度之间没有关联。血清NSE浓度与从创伤到采血的时间呈负相关（r = -0.50，P = 0.022）。这些结果表明，TBI后犬的血清NSE浓度不是严重程度或预后的有效标志。