TY - JOUR

T1 - Serum levels of neurofilament light chain, neuron-specific enolase and S100 calcium-binding protein B during acute bacterial meningitis

T2 - a prospective cohort study

AU - Grønhøj, Mads Hjortdal

AU - Sejbaek, Tobias

AU - Hansen, Rasmus Würgler

AU - Larsen, Lykke

AU - Dahl, Morten

AU - Schierbeck, Jens

AU - Poulsen, Frantz Rom

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Society for Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Purpose: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a severe disease with an overall poor outcome. Neurofilament (NFL) has shown to be a promising biomarker of neuroaxonal injury in various neurological disorders but has not been investigated in ABM. The aims of this study were (i) to obtain a temporal profile of NFL, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B in serum during ABM, and (ii) to evaluate their use as biomarkers of severity (Glasgow coma score) and prognosis (Glasgow Outcome Score, GOS and death) in severe ABM. Methods: Fifteen adults with severe community-acquired ABM who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. Lumbar puncture and blood tests were performed on admission, and blood tests were performed three times daily during the ICU stay. GOS was obtained day 30. Results: Serum NFL was significantly elevated in ABM patients compared to healthy controls, both at admission and throughout the observation period (p <.01). NFL increased significantly from day 1 up to day 3–6 (p <.0001), peaking day 6. NSE increased significantly from admission up to day 3 (p <.01). At day 5–6, the serum values were not significantly different from values at admission. The highest median serum value of S100B was observed at admission (0.10 µg/L, IQR 0.06–0.14), significantly decreasing day 4–6 (p <.05). None of the investigated biomarkers revealed significant correlation with severity and prognosis. Conclusion: This study represents a first clinical observation of the temporal profile of NFL in serum, in severe ABM. No correlation with severity or prognosis.

AB - Purpose: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) is a severe disease with an overall poor outcome. Neurofilament (NFL) has shown to be a promising biomarker of neuroaxonal injury in various neurological disorders but has not been investigated in ABM. The aims of this study were (i) to obtain a temporal profile of NFL, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B in serum during ABM, and (ii) to evaluate their use as biomarkers of severity (Glasgow coma score) and prognosis (Glasgow Outcome Score, GOS and death) in severe ABM. Methods: Fifteen adults with severe community-acquired ABM who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. Lumbar puncture and blood tests were performed on admission, and blood tests were performed three times daily during the ICU stay. GOS was obtained day 30. Results: Serum NFL was significantly elevated in ABM patients compared to healthy controls, both at admission and throughout the observation period (p <.01). NFL increased significantly from day 1 up to day 3–6 (p <.0001), peaking day 6. NSE increased significantly from admission up to day 3 (p <.01). At day 5–6, the serum values were not significantly different from values at admission. The highest median serum value of S100B was observed at admission (0.10 µg/L, IQR 0.06–0.14), significantly decreasing day 4–6 (p <.05). None of the investigated biomarkers revealed significant correlation with severity and prognosis. Conclusion: This study represents a first clinical observation of the temporal profile of NFL in serum, in severe ABM. No correlation with severity or prognosis.

KW - bacterial meningitis

KW - Neurofilament light chain

KW - neuron-specific enolase

KW - serum protein S100 calcium-binding protein B

U2 - 10.1080/23744235.2021.1883730

DO - 10.1080/23744235.2021.1883730

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33583314

AN - SCOPUS:85100867234

VL - 53

SP - 409

EP - 419

JO - Infectious Diseases

JF - Infectious Diseases

SN - 2374-4235

IS - 6

ER -