Simple blood test can detect evidence of concussions up to a week after injury
Researchers at Orlando Health detected evidence of concussions in patients up to 7 days after their injury using a simple blood test, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology. The discovery could greatly expand the window for diagnosing concussions, especially in patients who experience a delayed onset of symptoms.
The biomarker being analyzed is known as a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). These proteins are found in glial cells, which surround neurons in the brain, and when an injury occurs, the GFAP are released. What makes them unique is that they pass the blood-brain barrier and enter the bloodstream, making them easy to detect with this particular test.
Linda Papa, Gretchen M. Brophy, Robert D. Welch, Lawrence M. Lewis, Carolina F. Braga, Ciara N. Tan, Neema J. Ameli, Marco A. Lopez, Crystal A. Haeussler, Diego I. Mendez Giordano, Salvatore Silvestri, Philip Giordano, Kurt D. Weber, Crystal Hill-Pryor, Dallas C. Hack. Time Course and Diagnostic Accuracy of Glial and Neuronal Blood Biomarkers GFAP and UCH-L1 in a Large Cohort of Trauma Patients With and Without Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. JAMA Neurology, 2016; DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.0039
It’s estimated nearly a quarter of a million children are treated in hospitals each year for concussions, an average of nearly 700 a day. Credit: © Dmytro Panchenko / Fotolia
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