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Neurofilament light and tau as blood biomarkers for sports-related concussion

Shahim, Pashtun ; Tegner, Yelverton ; Marklund, Niklas LU orcid ; Blennow, Kaj LU and Zetterberg, Henrik LU (2018) In Neurology 90(20). p.1780-1788
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare neurofilament light (NfL) and tau as blood-based biomarkers for acute sports-related concussion (SRC) and determine whether their concentrations at different time points after the injury are associated with prolonged time to return to play (RTP).

METHODS: A total of 288 professional hockey players were followed longitudinally from September 1, 2012, to April 30, 2015. Data collection and biomarker analyses were conducted between 2015 and 2017. Associations were tested between blood concentrations of NfL and tau, and RTP time. Serum concentrations of S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were also measured for comparison.

RESULTS: Of 288 players, 105 sustained an SRC. Of these, 87 underwent blood... (More)

OBJECTIVE: To compare neurofilament light (NfL) and tau as blood-based biomarkers for acute sports-related concussion (SRC) and determine whether their concentrations at different time points after the injury are associated with prolonged time to return to play (RTP).

METHODS: A total of 288 professional hockey players were followed longitudinally from September 1, 2012, to April 30, 2015. Data collection and biomarker analyses were conducted between 2015 and 2017. Associations were tested between blood concentrations of NfL and tau, and RTP time. Serum concentrations of S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were also measured for comparison.

RESULTS: Of 288 players, 105 sustained an SRC. Of these, 87 underwent blood sampling 1, 12, 36, and 144 hours after SRC and at the RTP time point. Serum NfL concentrations 1, 12, 36, and 144 hours after SRC were related to prolonged RTP time, and could separate players with RTP >10 days from those with RTP ≤10 days (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.82). Also, serum NfL 144 hours after SRC discriminated players who resigned from the game due to persistent postconcussion symptoms (PCS) from those who returned to play (AUROC 0.89). Plasma tau 1 hour after SRC was related to RTP but less strongly than NfL, while S100B and NSE showed no such associations.

CONCLUSION: Serum NfL outperformed tau, S100B, and NSE as a biomarker for SRC. From a clinical standpoint, serum NfL may be useful to identify individuals at risk of prolonged PCS, and may aid in biomarker-informed decisions with regard to when RTP should be considered.

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author
; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Neurology
volume
90
issue
20
pages
1780 - 1788
publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
external identifiers
  • scopus:85052702163
  • pmid:29653990
ISSN
1526-632X
DOI
10.1212/WNL.0000000000005518
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
38567230-3032-48c1-9d70-50f8157aa333
date added to LUP
2018-09-13 15:24:02
date last changed
2024-08-06 22:41:09
@article{38567230-3032-48c1-9d70-50f8157aa333,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVE: To compare neurofilament light (NfL) and tau as blood-based biomarkers for acute sports-related concussion (SRC) and determine whether their concentrations at different time points after the injury are associated with prolonged time to return to play (RTP).</p><p>METHODS: A total of 288 professional hockey players were followed longitudinally from September 1, 2012, to April 30, 2015. Data collection and biomarker analyses were conducted between 2015 and 2017. Associations were tested between blood concentrations of NfL and tau, and RTP time. Serum concentrations of S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) were also measured for comparison.</p><p>RESULTS: Of 288 players, 105 sustained an SRC. Of these, 87 underwent blood sampling 1, 12, 36, and 144 hours after SRC and at the RTP time point. Serum NfL concentrations 1, 12, 36, and 144 hours after SRC were related to prolonged RTP time, and could separate players with RTP &gt;10 days from those with RTP ≤10 days (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] 0.82). Also, serum NfL 144 hours after SRC discriminated players who resigned from the game due to persistent postconcussion symptoms (PCS) from those who returned to play (AUROC 0.89). Plasma tau 1 hour after SRC was related to RTP but less strongly than NfL, while S100B and NSE showed no such associations.</p><p>CONCLUSION: Serum NfL outperformed tau, S100B, and NSE as a biomarker for SRC. From a clinical standpoint, serum NfL may be useful to identify individuals at risk of prolonged PCS, and may aid in biomarker-informed decisions with regard to when RTP should be considered.</p>}},
  author       = {{Shahim, Pashtun and Tegner, Yelverton and Marklund, Niklas and Blennow, Kaj and Zetterberg, Henrik}},
  issn         = {{1526-632X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{20}},
  pages        = {{1780--1788}},
  publisher    = {{Lippincott Williams & Wilkins}},
  series       = {{Neurology}},
  title        = {{Neurofilament light and tau as blood biomarkers for sports-related concussion}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000005518}},
  doi          = {{10.1212/WNL.0000000000005518}},
  volume       = {{90}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}