Cut-off value for β-trace protein (β-TP) as a rapid diagnostic of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak detection

• Published in: Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology 2023-10, Vol.8 (5), p.1233-1239
• Main Authors: Almela, María-Teresa, Navarro-Zaragoza, Javier, Laorden, María-Luisa, Sánchez-Celemín, Fernando, Almela, Pilar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cerebrospinal fluid; cerebrospinal fluid leakage; cut‐off; Head and Neck, and Tumor Biology; Kidney diseases; Meningitis; nephelometry; Original Research; Patients; Proteins; rhinorrea; Software; Surgery; β‐trace protein
• ISSN: 2378-8038; 2378-8038
• DOI: 10.1002/lio2.1150

To find an adequate cut-off point for beta trace protein (β-TP) in nasal secretion (NS) and validate this diagnostic test with a large sample of patients. Likewise, we evaluated β-TP test efficacy to confirm the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage closure after treatment. We performed a retrospective analysis with 207 samples from 162 patients with suspected CSF leakage received in the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca between 2010 and 2016. Twenty-five samples were included in the control group. Samples were obtained from NS through a swab to determine β-TP using a nephelometry-based assay. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) for β-TP in NS were assessed using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Using imaging techniques, the diagnosis of CSF leak was confirmed in 57 patients (35.19%), while 105 had a negative diagnosis (64.81%). Patients with CSF leakage had significantly higher β-TP values in NS (16.07 ± 16.94 mg/L,