To explore the value of serum levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-33 (IL-33) in the evaluation of the severity and prognosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

One hundred and forty-two patients with TBI admitted to Neurosurgery Department of Danzhou People’s Hospital from January 2016 to December 2019 were selected and divided into survival group (n=107) and death group (n=35) according to the 28 d prognosis. According to GCS score, the patients were divided into 87 cases in the mild and moderate group (n=10, GCS 13-15 score; n=77, GCS 9-12 score) and 55 cases in the severe group (GCS 3-8 score). The levels of serum changes in sTREM-1, IL-12 and IL-33 were compared on day 1, 3 and 5. The values of levels of serum sTREM-1, IL-12 and IL-33 in predicting the death of TBI patients were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

The GCS score of the death group was significantly lower than that of the survival group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The levels of serum sTREM-1, IL-12 and IL-33 on day 1, 3 and 5 of the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The levels of serum sTREM-1, IL-12 and IL-33 in severe group on the 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th day were significantly higher than those in mild and moderate group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). On the third day, the area under the curve (0.933, 95%CI: 0.875-0.994) of the combined prediction of death in patients with TBI by sTREM-1, IL-12 and IL-33 was the largest, and its sensitivity and specificity were 95.4% and 88.0%.

The increase of serum sTREM-1, IL-12 and IL-33 levels is related to the severity of TBI patients, and the combined detection of 3 items on the 3^rd day has a good value in predicting the prognosis of TBI patients.