Serum Neurofilament Light as a Biomarker of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Presence of Concomitant Peripheral Injury

Ker Rui Wong; William T O’Brien; Mujun Sun; Glenn Yamakawa; Terence J O’Brien; Richelle Mychasiuk; Sandy R Shultz; Stuart J McDonald; Rhys D Brady

doi:10.1177/11772719211053449

Biomarker Insights (Oct 2021)

Serum Neurofilament Light as a Biomarker of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Presence of Concomitant Peripheral Injury

Ker Rui Wong,
William T O’Brien,
Mujun Sun,
Glenn Yamakawa,
Terence J O’Brien,
Richelle Mychasiuk,
Sandy R Shultz,
Stuart J McDonald,
Rhys D Brady

Affiliations

Ker Rui Wong: Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
William T O’Brien: Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Mujun Sun: Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Glenn Yamakawa: Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Terence J O’Brien: Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Richelle Mychasiuk: Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Sandy R Shultz: Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Stuart J McDonald: Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
Rhys D Brady: Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/11772719211053449
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16

Abstract

Read online

Introduction: Serum neurofilament light (NfL) is an emerging biomarker of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the effect of peripheral injuries such as long bone fracture and skeletal muscle injury on serum NfL levels is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether serum NfL levels can be used as a biomarker of TBI in the presence of concomitant peripheral injuries. Methods: Rats were randomly assigned to one of four injury groups: polytrauma (muscle crush + fracture + TBI; n = 11); peripheral injuries (muscle crush + fracture + sham-TBI; n = 12); TBI-only (sham-muscle crush + sham-fracture + TBI; n = 13); and triple-sham (n = 7). At 2-days post-injury, serum levels of NfL were quantified using a Simoa HD-X Analyzer. Results: Compared to triple-sham rats, serum NfL concentrations were higher in rats with peripheral injuries-only, TBI-only, and polytrauma. When compared to peripheral injury-only rats, serum NfL levels were higher in TBI-only and polytrauma rats. No differences were found between TBI-only and polytrauma rats. Conclusion: Serum NfL levels did not differ between TBI-only and polytrauma rats, indicating that significant peripheral injuries did not affect the sensitivity and specificity of serum NfL as a biomarker of moderate TBI. However, the finding of elevated serum NfL levels in rats with peripheral injuries in the absence of a TBI suggests that the presence of such injuries may limit the utility of NfL as a biomarker of less severe TBI (eg, concussion).

Published in Biomarker Insights

ISSN: 1177-2719 (Online)
Publisher: SAGE Publishing
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/bmi

About the journal