Serum neurofilament light in professional soccer players: goal on safety.
Concussion
Football
Head injury
Neurofilaments
Journal
Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
ISSN: 1590-3478
Titre abrégé: Neurol Sci
Pays: Italy
ID NLM: 100959175
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Aug 2022
Aug 2022
Historique:
received:
22
02
2022
accepted:
29
04
2022
pubmed:
19
5
2022
medline:
6
8
2022
entrez:
18
5
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a subset of mild traumatic brain injuries occurring in contact sports. Most people recover spontaneously, but in retired professional players, the risk for neurodegenerative diseases is increased. A biomarker, such as neurofilament light chains (NfL), would help to address this issue and demonstrate sports' safety. Assessing NfL in professional soccer players may be the best way to investigate if repetitive head-impact exposure in the typical lower and asymptomatic range is harmful. To evaluate whether the NfL in serum is a sensitive biomarker to detect mild brain injury in professional soccer players. Thirty-six soccer players belonging to a professional Italian team underwent serum NfL assessment using ultrasensitive single-molecule array technology. Sixteen healthy nonathletic controls were also enrolled. Differences between groups and changes over time, considering pre-season vs. season, were considered. Serum NfL concentrations were comparable in the soccer professional players (median [interquartile range], 6.44 pg/mL [4.60-8.27] and controls (6.50 pg/mL [5.26-7.04]), with a median difference of - 0.06 pg/mL (95% CI -1.36 to 1.18), p = 0.957. No significant differences according to players' role (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or forward) or according to timing of sampling (pre-season vs. season) were found. These results suggest that professional soccer, even when played at the highest level of competition, may be considered safe. Future studies assessing serum NfL levels after soccer-related concussions should be carried out, to evaluate their usefulness as a return-to-play marker avoiding second impact syndrome.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Sports-related concussion (SRC) is a subset of mild traumatic brain injuries occurring in contact sports. Most people recover spontaneously, but in retired professional players, the risk for neurodegenerative diseases is increased. A biomarker, such as neurofilament light chains (NfL), would help to address this issue and demonstrate sports' safety. Assessing NfL in professional soccer players may be the best way to investigate if repetitive head-impact exposure in the typical lower and asymptomatic range is harmful.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the NfL in serum is a sensitive biomarker to detect mild brain injury in professional soccer players.
METHODS
METHODS
Thirty-six soccer players belonging to a professional Italian team underwent serum NfL assessment using ultrasensitive single-molecule array technology. Sixteen healthy nonathletic controls were also enrolled. Differences between groups and changes over time, considering pre-season vs. season, were considered.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Serum NfL concentrations were comparable in the soccer professional players (median [interquartile range], 6.44 pg/mL [4.60-8.27] and controls (6.50 pg/mL [5.26-7.04]), with a median difference of - 0.06 pg/mL (95% CI -1.36 to 1.18), p = 0.957. No significant differences according to players' role (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or forward) or according to timing of sampling (pre-season vs. season) were found.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that professional soccer, even when played at the highest level of competition, may be considered safe. Future studies assessing serum NfL levels after soccer-related concussions should be carried out, to evaluate their usefulness as a return-to-play marker avoiding second impact syndrome.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35583840
doi: 10.1007/s10072-022-06109-5
pii: 10.1007/s10072-022-06109-5
doi:
Substances chimiques
Biomarkers
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
5087-5090Subventions
Organisme : Ministero della Salute
ID : Ricerca corrente
Informations de copyright
© 2022. Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia.
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