Related Experiment Videos

Brain specific proteins in posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation

A Whitelaw1, L Rosengren, M Blennow

  • 1Division of Child Health, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. andrew.whitelaw@bristol.ac.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|February 24, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid, including neurofilament and glial fibrillary acidic protein, were significantly elevated in infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. These elevated levels correlated with adverse outcomes like death or disability.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) is a serious complication in infants.
  • Identifying reliable biomarkers for PHVD prognosis is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the concentrations of specific biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of infants with PHVD.
  • To determine the correlation between these biomarker levels and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid samples from 18 infants diagnosed with PHVD.
  • Measurement of median concentrations of neurofilament, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and S-100 protein.
  • Correlation analysis with clinical data including death, disability, parenchymal lesions, and shunt dependence.

Main Results:

  • Median neurofilament and GFAP concentrations were 20-200 times higher than control values.
  • S-100 protein levels were four times higher than control values.
  • GFAP concentrations showed a significant correlation with death or disability and with parenchymal lesions.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated CSF neurofilament, GFAP, and S-100 protein are indicative of PHVD in infants.
  • GFAP levels serve as a potential prognostic marker for adverse outcomes in infants with PHVD.

Related Concept Videos