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Updated: May 3, 2026
A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
Serum biomarkers predict acute symptom burden in children after concussion: a preliminary study
Rebekah Mannix1, Matthew Eisenberg, Mark Berry
11 Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.
Insights
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) shows promise in predicting concussion symptoms in young patients. Initial GFAP levels correlate with symptom burden, offering a potential objective diagnostic tool for pediatric concussion.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomarkers
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric emergency department visits for concussion have significantly increased.
- Objective diagnostic and prognostic tools for pediatric concussion are limited.
- Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a potential biomarker for brain injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of GFAP in predicting symptom burden in pediatric concussion patients.
- To assess GFAP's role in the initial diagnosis and recovery prognosis of concussion.
- To explore GFAP as an objective bedside tool for concussion management.
Main Methods:
- Preliminary evaluation of 13 pediatric concussion patients (11-21 years old) presenting to the ED.
- Collection of initial serum samples within 24 hours of concussion.
- Collection of follow-up serum samples within 24-72 hours post-injury.
Main Results:
- Initial GFAP levels were associated with initial symptom burden.
- Initial GFAP levels also correlated with symptom burden up to 1 month post-injury.
- Follow-up GFAP levels did not correlate with symptom burden.
Conclusions:
- GFAP may serve as an objective measure for injury severity in pediatric concussion.
- GFAP has the potential to aid in the prognosis of concussion recovery.
- GFAP could become a valuable clinical tool for managing pediatric concussion.
Abstract:
Pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for concussion have nearly tripled in the past decade. Despite this, there are limited bedside tools available to objectively diagnose injury and prognosticate recovery. Here, we perform a preliminary evaluation of the utility of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in predicting initial and follow-up symptom burden in children and young adults 11-21 years of age, presenting to the ED after concussion. We enrolled 13 children and young adults presenting to the ED within 24 h of concussion, and obtained initial serum samples at that time as well as follow-up samples within 24-72 h of injury. Initial GFAP levels were associated with initial and follow-up symptom burden up to 1 month after injury, whereas follow-up GFAP levels did not correlate with symptom burden. These preliminary data suggest that GFAP may offer an objective measure of injury and recovery after pediatric concussion, potentially offering clinicians a new tool in the management of this common injury.
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