Evolving role of biomarkers in acute cerebrovascular disease— Kernagis 2012
The development of a validated biomarker for acute cerebral ischemia could be very advantageous in many ways. By estimating the risk of hemorrhage and the volume of penumbral tissue, it may facilitate the implementation of time-sensitive reperfusion techniques, permit individualized patient treatment, and offer valuable prognostic data for acute stroke patients. Such a biomarker could also replace other measures of ischemia injury in preliminary clinical studies. There are a number of markers associated with the ischemic cascade, such as microglial activation, inflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal injury, hemostasis, and endothelial dysfunction, that have been investigated in earlier studies, despite the fact that there are currently no clinically validated biomarkers. High throughput ways to identifying potential gene and protein signatures, as well as approaches to evaluate markers of cell death and immunological response, have been made possible by developing technology. Yet, before judging the value of a biomarker-based strategy in adding to diagnostic and prognostic knowledge, it's crucial to understand the inherent limits of this technique. Rigid research design and evaluation must take place in a clinical setting in order to discover and validate a relevant biomarker or combination of markers for stroke.
Kernagis, D. N., & Laskowitz, D. T. (2012). Evolving role of biomarkers in acute cerebrovascular disease. Annals of neurology, 71(3), 289–303. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.22553
