#AI reads Urine#The use of brain-specific biomarkers in urine for prediction of neurological outcome and extent of tissue damage following stroke
Published 18 January, 2026
This document describes a study aimed at exploring the use of brain-specific biomarkers in urine for predicting neurological recovery outcomes and the extent of brain tissue damage following a stroke. Conducted at the University Hospital Frankfurt in Germany, the study included eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. Within 96 hours of the onset of patients' symptoms, their blood and urine samples were collected, and ultra-sensitive detection technology was used to analyze the levels of four biomarkers in the samples: glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light chain, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1, and total tau protein. Statistical analysis was then performed by combining data such as in-hospital mortality, modified Rankin Scale scores (used to assess neurological recovery) at discharge and 3 months after the stroke, and the extent of brain tissue damage.
The results showed that the absolute concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light chain, and total tau protein in urine were significantly higher in patients who died during hospitalization or within 3 months than in patients with better recovery. Glial fibrillary acidic protein in urine was the most effective in predicting patients' functional recovery at discharge, and its effectiveness was superior to that of the same protein in blood. In contrast, neurofilament light chain in blood was the only significant biomarker for predicting patients' functional recovery 3 months later. Additionally, glial fibrillary acidic protein in urine was closely associated with the size of ischemic lesions in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and neurofilament light chain in urine was useful for predicting both in-hospital mortality and mortality 3 months after the stroke.
The study ultimately concluded that detecting these biomarkers in urine is feasible. Due to its non-invasive and convenient nature, this method can help improve the accuracy of prognostic assessments for stroke patients, such as evaluating functional recovery and imaging results. However, it still needs to be used in conjunction with clinical evaluations and imaging examinations.
Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 3;15(1):43089. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-28115-1.
Youhe Gao
Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used Doubao / AI reading for summarizing the content. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.
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