Glial fibrillary acidic protein serum level as a predictor of clinical outcome in ischemic stroke

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) is a protein produced by astrocytes in response to brain injury, which then penetrates the cerebrospinal fluid and the blood stream. AIM: We sought to determine whether GFAP serum level in acute ischemic stroke could predict clinical outcome. METHODS: As much as 64 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke had their GFAP serum level measured at 72 hours after onset. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was assessed during the 72 hours of onset, the seventh day, and followed up 1 month after. RESULTS: There were 46 men and 18 women included in the study. Mean age was 58.3 years old, and nearly half of them (46.9%) were between 50-59 years old. More than half (58.7%) presented with moderate to a severe stroke and mean GFAP serum level was 0.113 ± 0.029 ng/mL. GFAP serum levels had a significant correlation with NIHSS after 1 month (p = 0.04, r = 0.259). CONCLUSION: There is a significant correlation between GFAP serum levels with stroke severity scale after 1 month of stroke onset.