Salivary microRNA as a prospective tool for concussion diagnosis and management: A scoping review

ABSTRACT

Background

Despite increased efforts directed toward research, concussions are a growing concern and can be a complex injury for healthcare professionals to manage. Current practices are largely dependent on patients self-reporting symptoms and a clinical assessment, which uses objective tools that lack effectiveness. With the demonstrated effects of concussions, it is imperative that a more valid or reliable objective tool, like a clinical biomarker, be identified to improve outcomes. One potential biomarker that has shown promise is salivary microRNA. However, there is no objective consensus as to which microRNA offers the most clinical value regarding concussions, hence this review. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to identify salivary miRNAs associated with concussions.

Methods

Two independent reviewers performed a literature search to identify research articles. Studies using human subjects, collected salivary miRNA, and were published in English were included. Data of interest were salivary miRNA, collection timing, and relation to concussion diagnosis or management.

Results

This paper reviews nine studies that analyzed salivary miRNA for concussion diagnosis and management.

Conclusions

In total, the studies have identified 49 salivary miRNA that show promise in assisting with concussion practices. With continued research, the use of salivary miRNA may enhance clinicians’ abilities to diagnose and manage concussions.

KEYWORDS:

• Concussion
• biomarker
• RNA
• microRNA
• saliva

Acknowledgments

This review was performed at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. The authors would like to thank the following individuals for the assistance and contribution to the development and achievement of this research:

Stacie Raymer: Assisted in the design development of the study

Daniel Russell: Reviewed and provided edits of final manuscript prior to submission.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.