Biomarkers in stroke

Abstract

Although rare, childhood stroke has become a problem of great interest, as new modalities for treatment and prevention are being integrated into practice. Obviously, much of our approach begins with an appreciation of adult practice, given the vastly higher rate of the problem in adults. Adult data suggest that there is a role for the measurement of biomarkers of inflammation and hypercoaguability in categorizing patients and predicting their response to treatment. This has not been examined systematically in children. In this issue of The Journal, a group from Denver provides us with information from a single-center study of 50 children with acute stroke. Although acute changes in most markers were identified, the one of greatest interest is that of D-dimer. Significant elevations of this marker were most dramatically elevated in the group of children whose stroke was determined to be cardio-embolic in origin. Although this study will need to be confirmed by larger, likely multicenter, ones, it suggests that biomarkers such as these may prove useful in the classification of childhood stroke. One day, they may prove important in targeting therapy. Biomarkers of Hypercoagulability and Inflammation in Childhood-Onset Arterial Ischemic StrokeThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 156Issue 4PreviewTo test the hypothesis that acute elevations of biomarkers of hypercoagulability and inflammation are common in children with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS), particularly among etiologic subtypes that carry an increased risk of recurrent stroke. Full-Text PDF