Prospective observational study evaluates cord blood neurofilament light in newborns with nonreassuring fetal status, suggesting its value as a sensitive biomarker for early neuronal injury.
( Int J Gynaecol Obstet . 2026 Mar;172(3):1491–1500. doi:10.1002/ijgo.70421) A prospective observational study explored whether neurofilament light (NfL), a marker of neuronal injury, can be reliably measured in umbilical cord blood and whether it is associated with nonreassuring fetal status and neonatal outcomes. Early identification of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is essential, as therapeutic hypothermia must begin within six hours of birth to be effective. However, current diagnostic tools, such as clinical assessments and cord blood acid-base measurements, lack specificity for detecting neuronal injury. As a result, there is a need for more sensitive biomarkers that can better reflect fetal hypoxia and neurological compromise.
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Zalcberg et al. (2026) studied this question.
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