We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Blood Biomarker Protein Correlates with Severity of Brain Damage in Stroke Patients

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 23 Nov 2020
Researchers have identified a stroke-related biomarker protein that correlates with the severity of brain tissue damage as well as with functional outcome and mortality.

The outcome of a stroke varies greatly between patients from temporary mild symptoms to permanent disability and death. More...
As the currently used clinical scale for measuring disease severity shows poor correlation with brain tissue damage, it is necessary to identify better markers of tissue damage, which could improve the ability to predict outcome and promote the development of better therapies.

In this regard, investigators at the Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, FL, USA) examined whether the blood protein neurofilament light (NFL) would fulfill this purpose for stroke patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Neurofilament light (NFL) is a neurofilament protein that in humans is encoded by the NEFL gene. NFL is a biomarker that can be measured with immunoassays in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma and reflects axonal damage in a wide variety of neurological disorders. It is a useful marker for disease monitoring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and more recently Huntington's disease.

For the current study, the investigators measured NFL concentrations in blood collected from 314 stroke patients and in blood from 79 healthy individuals. Results revealed that compared to healthy individuals NFL was higher for all stroke types. NFL associated with radiographic markers of brain tissue damage and correlated with the extent of early ischemic injury in patients with ACI, hemorrhage severity in patients with SAH, and intracranial hemorrhage volume in patients with ICH. Furthermore, higher NFL concentrations independently associated with three- or six-month functional disability and higher all-cause mortality.

"We discovered that blood levels of NFL do predict stroke severity," said senior author Dr. Leonard Petrucelli, professor of neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic. "We found that higher NFL levels forecast worse functional outcomes and shorter survival time after a stroke. We found this to be the case for ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic strokes. Our study establishes NFL as a promising prognostic biomarker for stroke."

The study was published in the November 11, 2020, online edition of the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Related Links:
Mayo Clinic


New
Gold Member
Quality Control Material
iPLEX Pro Exome QC Panel
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
Celiac Disease Test
Anti-Gliadin IgG ELISA
New
Automated PCR Setup
ESTREAM
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: An “evolutionary” approach to treating metastatic breast cancer could allow therapy choices to be adapted as patients’ cancer changes (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Evolutionary Clinical Trial to Identify Novel Biomarker-Driven Therapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer, which occurs when cancer spreads from the breast to other parts of the body, is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Nearly 90% of patients with metastatic cancer will... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: A real-time trial has shown that AI could speed cancer care (Photo courtesy of Campanella, et al., Nature Medicine)

AI Accurately Predicts Genetic Mutations from Routine Pathology Slides for Faster Cancer Care

Current cancer treatment decisions are often guided by genetic testing, which can be expensive, time-consuming, and not always available at leading hospitals. For patients with lung adenocarcinoma, a critical... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Researchers Dr. Lee Eun Sook and Dr. Lee Jinhyung examine the imprinting equipment used for nanodisk synthesis (Photo courtesy of KRISS)

Multifunctional Nanomaterial Simultaneously Performs Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Immune Activation

Cancer treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, have significant limitations. These treatments not only target cancerous areas but also damage healthy tissues, causing side effects... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.