Objective: To investigate the correlation between phosphorylated Tau at threonine 181 (p-Tau 181) in peripheral blood and brain injury in premature infants.

Methods: The p-Tau 181 level in the peripheral blood of premature infants was retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-eight premature infants were selected, including 13 in the brain injury group and 15 in the control group. The level of p-Tau 181 in peripheral blood was detected by Simoa assay.

Results: The plasma level of p-Tau 181 in the brain injury group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The result of logistic regression analysis revealed that the elevated level of p-Tau 181 in plasma was an independent risk factor of brain injury.

Conclusion: There may be overexpression of p-Tau 181 in plasma in premature infants with brain injury.