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Plasma brain-derived tau correlates with cerebral infarct volume
Fernando Gonzalez-Ortiz1,2, Lukas Holmegaard3,4, Björn Andersson5
1Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.
Journal of Internal Medicine
|December 6, 2024
Summary
Plasma brain-derived tau (BD-tau) levels correlate with brain injury size in ischemic stroke. This novel biomarker improves outcome prediction, particularly for mild and posterior circulation strokes, offering a valuable tool for clinical assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomarker Discovery
- Stroke Research
Background:
- Acute ischemic stroke diagnosis and prognosis rely on clinical and radiological assessments.
- A cost-effective, accessible blood biomarker reflecting neuronal injury is needed.
- Brain-derived tau (BD-tau) is a novel potential biomarker for neuronal damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if plasma BD-tau levels correlate with cerebral infarct volume.
- To determine if BD-tau improves clinical outcome prediction in acute ischemic stroke.
- To assess BD-tau's prognostic value across different stroke severities and locations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 713 patients from two ischemic stroke cohorts (SAHLSIS and SAHLSIS2).
- Assessment of acute stroke severity using the National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS).
- Evaluation of functional outcome at 3 months using the modified Rankin Scale; neuroimaging data available for 254 patients.
Main Results:
- Plasma BD-tau concentrations showed a strong correlation with cerebral infarct volumes (ρ=0.72, p<0.001).
- BD-tau significantly improved the prediction of unfavorable outcomes when added to age and NIHSS.
- Prognostic improvement was most pronounced in mild strokes (NIHSS <5) and posterior circulation strokes.
Conclusions:
- Plasma BD-tau serves as a reliable indicator of acute neuronal damage extent in ischemic stroke.
- BD-tau adds significant prognostic value for patient outcomes, especially in mild and posterior circulation stroke cases.
- BD-tau represents a promising blood biomarker for enhancing stroke evaluation and management.
