Neurofilament Light Chain Correlates with Stroke Severity and Clinical Outcome in Acute Cerebrovascular Stroke Patients

Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a marker of injury in many chronic neurological Disorders. We assessed NF-L in patients with acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) and healthy controls and clarified its association with the stroke severity, etiology, and functional outcome. This case-control study was conducted on 85 patients with first-ever acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) and 85 control subjects. Participants were subjected to through neurological history and examination. Brain imaging was performed after hospital admission. Blood tests were drawn for assessment of serum neurofilament (sNfL) levels at the first day of admission. Compared to healthy controls, our stroke patients either Ischemic or hemorrhagic had increased sNfL levels. Despite not being statistically different, ischemic stroke patients had greater levels than hemorrhagic stroke patients. Higher sNfL levels were associated with higher NIHSS scores and mRS at admission. In patients with ICH, a correlation was observed between sNfL and hematoma volume, hemorrhage location, ventricular extension and mRS. Moreover, an association of sNfL with Ischemic stroke due to large artery atherosclerosis was reported. In the absence of additional predictive variables like age and sex, it may be possible to quantify sNfL in acute plasma samples as a potential indicator of functional prognosis in patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. To validate sNfL as a biomarker for acute stroke, however, further research involving a larger number of patients is necessary.