Abstract: Various functional proteins are differently expressed in each pathologic stage after spinal cord injury, representing injury and the pathological change of repair. Ideal biomarker is helpful to evaluate complicated biological reactions of spinal cord injury and predict prognosis. As specific serum markers of central nerve injury, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and astrocyte primary calcium binding protein S-100β had been studied preliminarily, but the specificity and sensitivity need more research. Future efforts still need to develop ideal biomarkers to predict functional outcome.

Key words: spinal cord injury, biomarker, review