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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 3/2022

18-05-2021 | Central Nervous System Trauma | Review Article

Neurofilament light chain in patients with a concussion or head impacts: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Eleni Karantali, Dimitrios Kazis, Jack McKenna, Symela Chatzikonstantinou, Fivos Petridis, Ioannis Mavroudis

Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery | Issue 3/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common and benign form of TBI, usually referred to by the medical term “concussion”. The purpose of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the role of serum and CSF neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a potential biomarker in concussion.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases using specific keywords. As the primary outcome, we assessed CSF or serum NfL levels in patients with concussion and head impacts versus controls. The role of NfL in patients with concussion and head impacts compared to healthy controls was also assessed, as well as in sports-related and military-related conditions.

Results

From the initial 617 identified studies, we included 24 studies in our qualitative analysis and 14 studies in our meta-analysis. We found a statistically significant increase of serum NfL in patients suffering from a concussion or head impacts compared to controls (p = 0.0023), highlighting its potential role as a biomarker. From our sub-group analyses, sports-related concussion and mild TBI were mostly correlated with increased serum NfL values. Compared to controls, sports-related concussion was significantly associated with higher NfL levels (p = 0.0015), while no association was noted in patients suffering from head impacts or military-related TBI.

Conclusion

Serum NfL levels are higher in all patients suffering from concussion compared to healthy controls. The sports-related concussion was specifically associated with higher levels of NfL. Further studies exploring the use of NfL as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in mild TBI and head impacts are needed.
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Metadata
Title
Neurofilament light chain in patients with a concussion or head impacts: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Eleni Karantali
Dimitrios Kazis
Jack McKenna
Symela Chatzikonstantinou
Fivos Petridis
Ioannis Mavroudis
Publication date
18-05-2021
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery / Issue 3/2022
Print ISSN: 1863-9933
Electronic ISSN: 1863-9941
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-021-01693-1

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