Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33422120›Full record

ArticleBiomarker research2021

Prolonged elevation of serum neurofilament light after concussion in male Australian football players.

Stuart J McDonald, William T O'Brien, Georgia F Symons, Zhibin Chen, Jesse Bain, Brendan P Major, Daniel Costello, Glenn Yamakawa, Mujun Sun, Rhys D Brady and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biomarker research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 34 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
34citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

34 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The Impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Neurofilament Light and Phosphorylated Tau in Individuals with a Concussion.Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Stuart J McDonaldDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. stuart.mcdonald@monash.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5190-3179
William T O'BrienDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Georgia F SymonsDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Zhibin ChenDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Jesse BainDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Brendan P MajorDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Daniel CostelloDepartment of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Glenn YamakawaDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Mujun SunDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Rhys D BradyDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Biswadev MitraNational Trauma Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Richelle MychasiukDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Terence J O'BrienDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Sandy R ShultzDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBiomarkers that can objectively guide the diagnosis of sports-related concussion, and consequent return-to-play decisions, are urgently needed. In this study, we aimed to determine the temporal profile and diagnostic ability of serum levels of neurofilament light (NfL), ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and tau in concussed male and female Australian footballers.

methodsBlood was collected from 28 Australian rules footballers (20 males, 8 females) at 2-, 6-, and 13-days after a diagnosed concussion for comparison to their levels at baseline (i.e. pre-season), and with 27 control players (19 males, 8 females) without a diagnosis of concussion. Serum concentrations of protein markers associated with damage to neurons (UCHL1), axons (NfL, tau), and astrocytes (GFAP) were quantified using a Simoa HD-X Analyzer. Biomarker levels for concussed players were compared over time and between sex using generalised linear mixed effect models, and diagnostic performance was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis.

resultsSerum NfL was increased from baseline in male footballers at 6- and 13-days post-concussion. GFAP and tau were increased in male footballers with concussion at 2- and 13-days respectively. NfL concentrations discriminated between concussed and non-concussed male footballers at all time-points (AUROC: 2d = 0.73, 6d = 0.85, 13d = 0.79), with tau also demonstrating utility at 13d (AUROC = 0.72). No biomarker differences were observed in female footballers after concussion.

conclusionsSerum NfL may be a useful biomarker for the acute and sub-acute diagnosis of concussion in males, and could inform neurobiological recovery and return-to-play decisions. Future adequately powered studies are still needed to investigate biomarker changes in concussed females.

Indexed as

Blood biomarkerDiagnosisGFAPMild traumatic brain injuryNfLRecoveryReturn to playSports-related concussionTauUCHL1

Identifiers

PMID33422120
PMCPMC7797141

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.