Serum Tau Fragments Predict Return to Play in Concussed Professional Ice Hockey Players

Abstract

The diagnosis of sports-related concussion is mainly based on subjective clinical symptoms and neuropsychological tests. Therefore, reliable brain injury biomarkers to assess when it is safe to return to play are highly desirable. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of two newly described tau fragments for diagnosis and prognosis of sports-related concussions. This multi-center prospective cohort study involved all 12 teams of the top professional ice hockey league in Sweden. A total of 288 players consented to participate in the study. Thirty-five players sustained concussions, of whom 28 underwent repeated blood samplings at 1, 12, 36, and 144 h after the trauma, or when the player returned to play (7 to >90 days). There was no significant increase in the levels of Tau-A in post-concussion samples compared with preseason values. However, serum levels of Tau-C were significantly higher in post-concussion samples compared with preseason. Further, levels of Tau-A correlated with the duration of post-concussive symptoms. Tau-A in serum, which is newly discovered biomarker, could be used to predict when it is safe to return to play after a sports-related concussion.

An investigation of neuroinjury biomarkers after sport-related concussion: from the subacute phase to clinical recovery

“…A number of studies have evaluated a small panel of blood biomarkers in professional men's ice hockey, and from these investigations it appears that altered levels of markers, such as s100B, NSE, and Tau return to pre-injury levels at return to play (22,23,32). However, there are a lack of studies that have evaluated biomarkers in multiple sports, in both male and female athletes.…”

Genetic polymorphisms associated with the risk of concussion in 1056 college athletes: a multicentre prospective cohort study

“…While there are data to support the association of elevated IL-6 protein levels in severe TBI34 and elevated IL-6 and total tau protein following sports concussion,35 there are no reported studies investigating the possible role of IL-6–572 G/C (rs1800796) or IL6 R Asp 358 Ala (rs2228145) polymorphisms and the risk of sports concussion.…”

Role of advanced neuroimaging, fluid biomarkers and genetic testing in the assessment of sport-related concussion: a systematic review

“…Eleven papers found significant alterations in one or more of the following blood biomarkers that could potentially aid in the diagnosis of SRC: α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor peptide (AMPAR),70 S100 calcium binding protein B (s100B),71–74 total tau,72 marinobufagenin,75 plasma soluble cellular prion protein,76 glial fibrillary acidic protein,76 neuron-specific enolase (NSE),77 calpain-derived αII-spectrin N-terminal fragment (SNTF),78 tau-C79 and metabolomics profiling 80. In contrast, NSE,72 visinin-like protein-1,74 total tau,41 74 81 tau-A79 and salivary cortisol82 did not distinguish concussed athletes from non-concussed athletes. Several serum biomarkers such as SNTF,78 quinolinic acid,83 prolactin84 and tau-A79 showed early evidence in predicting outcomes following sport concussion.…”