Stroke biomarkers: progress and challenges for diagnosis, prognosis, differentiation, and treatment.
BACKGROUND
Stroke is a devastating condition encompassing a wide range of pathophysiological entities that include thrombosis, hemorrhage, and embolism. Current diagnosis of stroke relies on physician clinical examination and is further supplemented with various neuroimaging techniques. A single set or multiple sets of blood biomarkers that could be used in an acute setting to diagnosis stroke, differentiate between stroke types, or even predict an initial/reoccurring stroke would be extremely valuable.


BACKGROUND
We discuss the current classification, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke, focusing on use of novel biomarkers (either solitary markers or multiple markers within a panel) that have been studied in a variety of clinical settings.


CONCLUSIONS
The current diagnosis of stroke remains hampered and delayed due to lack of a suitable mechanism for rapid (ideally point-of-care), accurate, and analytically sensitive biomarker-based testing. There is a clear need for further development and translational research in this area. Potential biomarkers identified need to be transitioned quickly into clinical validation testing for further evaluation in an acute stroke setting; to do so would impact and improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
Saenger
Amy K
AK
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. saenger.amy@mayo.edu
Christenson
Robert H
RH
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000097:blood; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C120997:NR2A NMDA receptor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9