Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) are proteins released into the bloodstream upon hypoxic brain injury. We evaluated the biokinetics and examined the prognostic performance of serum NfL and GFAP in comatose out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. Furthermore, we compared the prognostic performance to that of serum Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE).
This is a sub-study of the “Targeted temperature management for 48 vs 24 hours” (NCT01689077) trial. NfL and GFAP serum values from 82 patients were examined in blood samples collected at 24, 48 and 72 hours (h) after reaching target temperature of 33±1°C. This temperature was reached within a median of 281-320 minutes after intensive care unit admission. GFAP was analysed at 48 and 72h. The neuroprognostic performance of NfL and GFAP was evaluated after 6 months follow-up.
NfL and GFAP values were significantly higher in patients with a poor outcome (Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score 3-5) vs. good outcome (CPC 1-2). NfL 24h: 1371.5 (462.0; 2125.1) vs. 24.8 (14.0; 61.6). GFAP 48h: 1285.3 (843.9; 2236.7) vs. 361.2 (200.4; 665.6) (both p<0.001). Both biomarkers were promising markers of poor functional outcome at 24 and 48h respectively: NfL 24h: AUROC 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91-1.00). GFAP 48h: AUROC 0.88 (95% CI: 0.81-0.96). NfL and GFAP both predicted outcome better than NSE at 48h (both p<0.01). At 72h NfL but not GFAP outperformed NSE (p=0.01).
Serum NfL and GFAP may be strong biomarkers of poor functional outcome after OHCA from an early timepoint.

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