Association of Blood Biomarkers With Acute Sport-Related Concussion in Collegiate Athletes: Findings From the NCAA and Department of Defense CARE Consortium

• Published in: JAMA network open 2020-01, Vol.3 (1), p.e1919771-e1919771
• Main Authors: McCrea, Michael, Broglio, Steven P, McAllister, Thomas W, Gill, Jessica, Giza, Christopher C, Huber, Daniel L, Harezlak, Jaroslaw, Cameron, Kenneth L, Houston, Megan N, McGinty, Gerald, Jackson, Jonathan C, Guskiewicz, Kevin, Mihalik, Jason, Brooks, M Alison, Duma, Stephan, Rowson, Steven, Nelson, Lindsay D, Pasquina, Paul, Meier, Timothy B, Foroud, Tatiana, Katz, Barry P, Saykin, Andrew J, Campbell, Darren E, Svoboda, Steven J, Goldman, Joshua, DiFiori, Jon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Concussion; Consciousness; Consortia; Fainting; Neurology; Online Only; Original Investigation; Student athletes
• ISSN: 2574-3805; 2574-3805
• DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.19771

There is potential scientific and clinical value in validation of objective biomarkers for sport-related concussion (SRC). To investigate the association of acute-phase blood biomarker levels with SRC in collegiate athletes. This multicenter, prospective, case-control study was conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the US Department of Defense Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium from February 20, 2015, to May 31, 2018, at 6 CARE Advanced Research Core sites. A total of 504 collegiate athletes with concussion, contact sport control athletes, and non-contact sport control athletes completed clinical testing and blood collection at preseason baseline, the acute postinjury period, 24 to 48 hours after injury, the point of reporting being asymptomatic, and 7 days after return to play. Data analysis was conducted from March 1 to November 30, 2019. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1), neurofilament light chain, and tau were quantified using the Quanterix Simoa multiplex assay. Clinical outcome measures included the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Third Edition (SCAT-3) symptom evaluation, Standardized Assessment of Concussion, Balance Error Scoring System, and Brief Symptom Inventory 18. A total of 264 athletes with concussion (mean [SD] age, 19.08 [1.24] years; 211 [79.9%] male), 138 contact sport controls (mean [SD] age, 19.03 [1.27] years; 107 [77.5%] male), and 102 non-contact sport controls (mean [SD] age, 19.39 [1.25] years; 82 [80.4%] male) were included in the study. Athletes with concussion had significant elevation in GFAP (mean difference, 0.430 pg/mL; 95% CI, 0.339-0.521 pg/mL; P