Role of neuron-specific enolase, glial fibrillar acidic protein and NR2-antibodies in early diagnostic of ischemic stroke

Background. Application of a biomarker panel during the acute period of the ischemic stroke (IS) can contribute to a more accurate and prompter diagnostics and verification of the optimal approach to a patients’ management.

Objective. We aimed to clarify values of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP) and antibodies for NMDA receptor’s NR2-subunit (NR2-antibodies) in the acute period of IS, to compare with such values in patients without IS, to assess their relationship with severity of neurological deficit and short-term outcome and also to establish sensitivity and specificity of the biomarker panel.

Design and methods. 63 patients with IS and 31 people (11 with chronic brain ischemia and 20 healthy individuals) as controls were included. Results. NSE and GFAP values in IS group exceeded reference values at the onset of disease, lowering significally by 10-14 day, while NR2-antibodies’ values were lower at the onset of the disease compared with controls, rising by 10-14 day. In patients with unfavourable short-term outcome higher levels of NSE, GFAP and NR2-antibodies were found. A panel of such biomarkers has higher sensitivity and specificity than each of them individually.

Conclusion. Researched substances can be used in a biomarker panel for IS diagnostics, brain damage monitoring, patient’s condition evaluation and short outcome prognosing.

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