Current Trends in Stroke Biomarkers: The Prognostic Role of S100 Calcium-Binding Protein B and Glial Fibrillary...

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the developed world and a major cause of chronic disability, especially among the elderly population. The major biomarkers of stroke which are the most promising for predicting onset time and independently differentiating ischemic from hemorrhagic and other stroke subtypes are at present limited to a few. This review aims to emphasize on the prognostic role of S100 calcium-binding protein b (S100B), and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) in patients with stroke. An electronic search of the published research from January 2000 to February 2024 was conducted using the MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. The implementation of S100B and GFAP in existing clinical scales and imaging modalities may be used to improve diagnostic accuracy and realize the potential of blood biomarkers in clinical practice. The reviewed studies highlight the potential of S100B and GFAP as significant biomarkers in the prognosis and diagnosis of patients with stroke and their ability of predicting long-term neurological deficits. They demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and they correlate well with stroke severity and outcomes. Several studies also emphasize on the early elevation of these biomarkers post-stroke onset, underscoring their value in early diagnosis and risk stratification. The ongoing research in this field should aim at improving patient outcomes and reducing stroke-related morbidity and mortality by developing a reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tool that can be easily implemented in several healthcare settings, with the ultimate goal of improving stroke management.