Plasma phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chains as a potential marker for ischemic stroke patients

Abstract

Background:The aim of the study was to determine the utility of plasma NfH in correlation with serum hsCRP for severity and short-term functional outcome prediction after ischemic stroke.Methods: 124 patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled, serial plasma neurofilament heavy chains and hsCRP concentrations were measured and evaluated for TOAST subtype, stroke severity and functional outcome at discharge.Results: Serum level of hsCRP was significantly higher in patients versus controls (p<0.05) with no difference between TOAST subtypes. Plasma NfH concentration on day 5 was higher in CE stroke compared to LAA group and SVO group. A positive correlation between NfH levels on day 5 and mRS at discharge (r=0.304, p=0.001) and a gender stratification of hsCRP and mRS at discharge was found. Values of 6.04 mg/l for hsCRP and 46.4 ng/ml for NfH were found predictive for unfavorable short-term outcome, but after adjusting for age, sex and stroke severity, the prediction power was lost.Conclusions: Plasma concentration of NfH shows a significant increase over the first five days after ischemic stroke, in correlation with inflammatory status and short-term evolution.

Plasma biomarkers as potential predictors of functional dependence in daily life activities after ischemic stroke: A single center study

“…In a recent publication, we showed that the plasma level of neurofilament heavy chains (NfH), a possible marker of neuronal destruction, was significantly higher on day 5 after the onset of the disease, in a positive association with mRS ≥3 at discharge. [ 41 ] However, in the present analysis, significantly higher levels of NfH [median: 159.3 (IQR: 23.5–384.2) ng/ml] were found in patients with higher degree of disability in daily life activity (BI ≤80) compared with patients with BI >80 [median: 26.5 (IQR: 23.5–267.9) ng/ml] (data not shown).…”

Enjoy Carefully: The Multifaceted Role of Vitamin E in Neuro-Nutrition

“…However, a number of adverse effects have been observed for vitamin E. Very high dosages of vitamin E (44 mg/kg body weight) increased blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone (SHRSP) rats [ 95 ]. There was also a rise in: phosphorylated neurofilament H protein, a prognostic marker of neurological disorders [ 96 ] and acute ischemic stroke [ 97 ]; glial fibrillary acidic protein associated with AD [ 98 ]; and cathepsin D in the CNS [ 95 ]. A study investigating the neuroinflammatory response following ischemic stroke in α-TTP-deficient mice treated with an α-TP diet (1680 IU/d) observed an exacerbation of ischemic stroke injury, due to supraphysiological brain injury accompanied by an increase in markers of oxidative injury and neurodegeneration [ 99 ].…”