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Citation
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Anzalone AJ, Turner SM, Baleztena AC, McGuffin T, Creed K, Jeromin A, Wilson D, Hanlon D, Garrison JC, Blueitt D, Oliver JM. Clin. J. Sport. Med. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub. |
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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in blood biomarkers, serum neurofilament light (Nf-L), and plasma tau, as well as the relationship between blood biomarkers and symptom reports, in athletes with a sports-related concussion.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Private community-based concussion clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Athletes aged 13 to 18 years old with a diagnosed sports-related concussion presenting to a concussion clinic within 7 days of injury and noninjured athletes with no history of concussion aged 13 to 23 years old. ASSESSMENT AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Injured athletes provided a blood sample at the initial clinical evaluation and again at least 6 months after injury. Noninjured athletes provided a single blood sample. All participants completed symptom reports during each visit. Statistical comparisons of biomarker concentrations and symptom reports were conducted.
RESULTS: The mean rank for tau was significantly lower for concussed athletes compared with nonconcussed athletes. In contrast, the mean rank of Nf-L was higher for concussed athletes than for nonconcussed athletes, although the difference was nonsignificant. Plasma tau was significantly lower postinjury compared with 6 months after injury, whereas serum Nf-L was significantly higher postinjury. There was a weak but significant inverse relationship observed between tau and the number of symptoms reported, but no relationship was observed between Nf-L and the number of symptoms reported.
CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that in the days following a sports-related concussion, the blood biomarkers tau and Nf-L display contrasting patterns of change but may not be related to self-reported symptom scores.
Language: en |