ELEVATION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES 3 AND 9 IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID AND BLOOD IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Abstract

We show that MMPs are increased in the CSF of TBI patients. Although the number of patients was small, the results were robust and clearly demonstrated increases in MMP-3 and MMP-9 in ventricular CSF in TBI patients compared with controls. Although these preliminary results will need to be replicated, we propose that MMPs may be important in blood-brain barrier opening and hemorrhage secondary to brain injury in patients.