Faculty Collaboration Database

A Prospective Study of Acute Blood-Based Biomarkers for Sport-Related Concussion. Ann Neurol 2020 Jun;87(6):907-920

Date

03/28/2020

Pubmed ID

32215965

Pubmed Central ID

PMC7477798

DOI

10.1002/ana.25725

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85083717481 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   55 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Prospectively characterize changes in serum proteins following sport-related concussion and determine whether candidate biomarkers discriminate concussed athletes from controls and are associated with duration of symptoms following concussion.

METHODS: High school and collegiate athletes were enrolled between 2015 and 2018. Blood was collected at preinjury baseline and within 6 hours (early acute) and at 24 to 48 hours (late acute) following concussion in football players (n = 106), matched uninjured football players (n = 84), and non-contact-sport athletes (n = 50). Glial fibrillary acidic protein, ubiquitin c-terminal hydrolase-L1, S100 calcium binding protein B, alpha-II-spectrin breakdown product 150, interleukin 6, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, and c-reactive protein were measured in serum. Linear models assessed changes in protein concentrations over time. Receiver operating curves quantified the discrimination of concussed athletes from controls. A Cox proportional hazard model determined whether proteins were associated with symptom recovery.

RESULTS: All proteins except glial fibrillary acidic protein and c-reactive protein were significantly elevated at the early acute phase postinjury relative to baseline and both control groups and discriminated concussed athletes from controls with areas under the curve of 0.68 to 0.84. The candidate biomarkers also significantly improved the discrimination of concussed athletes from noncontact controls compared to symptom severity alone. Glial fibrillary acidic protein was elevated postinjury relative to baseline in concussed athletes with a loss of consciousness or amnesia. Finally, early acute levels of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist were associated with the number of days to symptom recovery.

INTERPRETATION: Brain injury and inflammatory proteins show promise as objective diagnostic biomarkers for sport-related concussion, and inflammatory markers may provide prognostic value. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:907-920.

Author List

Meier TB, Huber DL, Bohorquez-Montoya L, Nitta ME, Savitz J, Teague TK, Bazarian JJ, Hayes RL, Nelson LD, McCrea MA

Authors

Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Timothy B. Meier PhD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Lindsay D. Nelson PhD Associate Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Athletes
Athletic Injuries
Biomarkers
Brain Concussion
Female
Football
Humans
Inflammation
Injury Severity Score
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
ROC Curve
Young Adult