Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Hydrocephalus

Abstract

Hydrocephalus (HC) is a common, debilitating neurological condition that requires urgent clinical decision-making. At present, neurosurgeons rely heavily on a patient's history, physical examination findings, neuroimaging, and clinical judgment to make the diagnosis of HC or treatment failure (e.g., shunt malfunction). Unfortunately, these tools, even in combination, do not eliminate subjectivity in clinical decisions. In order to improve the management of infants and children with HC, there is an urgent need for new biomarkers to complement currently available tools and enable clinicians to confidently establish the diagnosis of HC, assess therapeutic efficacy/treatment failure, and evaluate current and future developmental challenges, so that every child has access to the resources they need to optimize their outcome and quality of life.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Preterm Infants: Phase I Dose-Escalation Clinical Trial

“…Therefore, identifying additional biomarkers for the early identification of neuronal injury, in addition to cranial ultrasonography, is crucial for improving therapeutic outcomes 27. Various CSF biomarkers, including TGFß‐1 28, VEGF 29, BDNF 20, GDNF 30, and proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL‐1α 31, IL‐1ß 32, CCL‐3, and CCL‐19 31 have been used to diagnose brain injury and predict neurodevelopmental outcomes.…”

Hydrocephaly Analysis Supported by Computerized Tomography and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

“…Cerebrospinal fluid is a regulated fluid with molecular diversities on the local neuro-pathophysiological and neurophysiological processes. Therefore, biomarkers from CSF are highly relevant to different neurological related diseases, which include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, and hydrocephaly [32–34]. The elevated CSF protein was found in the aqueductal obstruction hydrocephaly.…”

Opportunities in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus research: outcomes of the Hydrocephalus Association Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus Workshop

“…Modulation of neuro-inflammatory pathways has thus been suggested as a strategy for mitigating the effects of IVH and potentially preventing the development of PHH. CSF levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and -β2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and other cytokines and chemokines have all been implicated in PHH [ 194 – 200 ]. In a recent study by Habiyaremye et al [ 201 ], XCL-1 was decreased in the CSF of neonates with PHH.…”