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Low Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Were Associated with Poor Short-Term Functional Outcome and Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke

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Abstract

Circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been highlighted as being a key regulator of rehabilitation-induced recovery after stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum levels of BDNF and functional outcome and mortality events in a 3-month follow-up study in a cohort of patients with an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). From January 2015 to December 2015, consecutive first-ever AIS patients admitted to the Department of Emergency of our hospital were identified. Serum BDNF levels were measured at admission. Functional outcome was evaluated at 3 months using the modified Rankin scale (m-Rankin). We used logistic regression models to assess the relationship between BDNF levels and functional outcome or mortality. In this study, 204 patients were included. Patients with poor outcomes and non-survivors had significantly lower BDNF levels on admission (P < 0.0001 all). Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for common risk factors showed that BDNF levels in the lowest interquartile (≤1st 9.2 ng/ml) was an independent predictor of functional outcome (odds ratios [OR] = 3.75; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 2.43–8.12) and mortality (OR = 4.04; 95 % CI, 2.07–9.14). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of BDNF was 0.77 (95 % CI, 0.70–0.84) for functional outcome and 0.79 (95 % CI, 0.71–0.86) for mortality. The findings indicated that low serum levels of BDNF at admission were significantly associated with poor short-term functional outcome and mortality, suggesting that BDNF may serve as a biomarker of poor function outcome after stroke.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Department of Emergency; the nurses, physicians, and patients who participated in our study; and the staff of the central laboratory of our hospital.

Author Contributions

Li LH had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Study concept and design: Wang J, Gao L, Yang YL, Li YQ, Chang T, Guo SC, and Li LH.

Acquisition of data: Wang J, Gao L, Yang YL, and Li LH.

Analysis and interpretation of data: Wang J, Man MH, Zhang XY, and Guo SC.

Drafting of the manuscript: Wang J, Gao L, Yang YL, Zhang XY, and Li LH.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Li YQ, Chang T, Man MH, and Guo SC.

Obtained funding: Li LH.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Yang YL, Li YQ, Chang T, and Guo SC.

Study supervision: Li LH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital of Fourth Military Medical University, No.1, Xinsi Road, Baqiao District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, 710038, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Wang, Li Gao, Yan-Long Yang, Yu-Qian Li, Tao Chang, Ming-Hao Man, Xing-Ye Zhang, Shao-Chun Guo & Li-Hong Li

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  1. Jing Wang
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Correspondence to Li-Hong Li.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Research Involving Human Participants

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Tangdu Hospital of Fourth Military Medical University.

Informed Consent

Informed written consent was obtained from each patient, family, or legal guardian.

Additional information

Jing Wang and Li Gao contributed equally to this study.

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Wang, J., Gao, L., Yang, YL. et al. Low Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Were Associated with Poor Short-Term Functional Outcome and Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Mol Neurobiol 54, 7335–7342 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-016-0236-1

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