A new marker for ischemic cerebrovascular stroke: Phosphorylated Neurofilament H

Background and purposeA main problem in patients with ischemic CVS is the absence of a blood marker that can be collected to diagnose and predict prognosis. The objective of our study was to assess if Phosphorylated Neurofilament H (pNF-H) might provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information in such patients.MethodsThirty patients presenting to the critical care department with ischemic CVS were studied. Blood samples for Phosphorylated Neurofilament H were assayed on admission and after 7 days. Neurofilament levels were correlated with Glasgow coma scale, CT findings and NIHSS on admission and after 7 days.ResultsNeurofilament H levels showed a negative correlation with GCS on admission and after 7 days in, ischemic stroke (0.37, 0.56); hence higher neuromarker levels were associated with lower GCS. There was a negative correlation between neurofilament levels and ASPECTS CT scores (r = 0.64, 0.89). NIHSS showed positive correlations with neurofilament levels.ConclusionPhosphorylated Neurofilament H can be used as a useful tool to assess patients with acute ischemic CVS. Levels of the neurofilament correlated with the degree of conscious level in such patients and with CT findings hence can be used to assess short term prognosis.