Serum levels of neuron-specific ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase-L1 predict brain injury in a canine model of hypothermic circulatory arrest

This is the first report associating elevated serum UCHL1 with brain injury. The novel neuronal biomarker UCHL1 is increased in serum 8 hours after severe neurologic insult in 2h-HCA animals compared with CPB animals. These results support the potential for use in cardiac surgery patients and form the basis for clinical correlation in humans.