Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00635

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Temporal Pattern and Clinical Value of Serum GFAP in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Results from Two Prospective German Cohorts.

Barba, L. ; Vollmuth, C. ; Oeckl, P.DZNE* ; Halbgebauer, S.DZNE* ; Hametner, C. ; Essig, F. ; Heuschmann, P. U. ; Kollikowski, A. M. ; Pham, M. ; Schuhmann, M. K. ; Steinacker, P. ; Bahramsari, Y. ; Thaele, A. ; Kulitze, C. ; Abu-Rumeileh, S. ; Haeusler, K. G. ; Stoll, G. ; Neugebauer, H. ; Otto, M.

2026
Springer New York, NY

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s12975-026-01458-1

Abstract: Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) is an astroglial biomarker preliminarily investigated in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to investigate its temporal pattern and clinical value in two German AIS cohorts. Using immunoassay, we measured sGFAP concentrations in 952 samples of 572 AIS patient and 32 samples of controls recruited in Halle [AIS n = 102, age: 70.9 (± 15.9) years, 52.0% males; controls n = 32, age: 47.6 (± 18.8) years, 59.4% males] and Würzburg [AIS n = 470, age 74.6 (± 12.8) years, 48.3% males]. In AIS patients, we stratified samples according to the time from symptom onset to blood sampling, namely at D1 (< 24 h), D2 (24-48 h), D3 (48-72 h) and D5-7 (96-144 h), and tested associations between biomarker levels and clinical data. sGFAP level was increased at all timepoints after AIS compared to control subjects (p < 0.001, age-adjusted p < 0.01) with significant changes over time (D1 < D2< D3 ≥ D5-7). We found increased sGFAP concentrations in AIS patients who had altered mental status on admission (p < 0.01), hemorrhagic transformation of AIS (HT, p < 0.001) as well as systemic infections such as pneumonia (p < 0.001). Higher D1 sGFAP concentrations were associated with higher likelihood of modified Rankin Scale > 2 at 3 months [aOR = 1.015 (95%CI = 1.005-1.025), p = 0.004] and a shorter survival at longest follow-up (median: 576 days, max 922 days) [highest tertile vs. lowest tertile HR = 2.94 (95%CI = 1.21-7.17), p = 0.018]. sGFAP is elevated after AIS and of informative value regarding the risk HT and infections, as well as on the clinical outcome at follow-up.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein: blood (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Ischemic Stroke: blood (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Germany (MeSH) ; Biomarkers: blood (MeSH) ; Prospective Studies (MeSH) ; Aged, 80 and over (MeSH) ; Cohort Studies (MeSH) ; Adult (MeSH) ; Time Factors (MeSH) ; Brain Ischemia: blood (MeSH) ; Stroke: blood (MeSH) ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Biomarkers ; GFAP protein, human

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Translational Mass Spectrometry and Biomarker Research (AG Öckl)
2. Clinical Study Center (Ulm) (Clinical Study Center (Ulm))

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; DEAL Springer ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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