Abstract Details

Title von Willebrand Factor (vWF) as a Biomarker of Traumatic Brain Injury

Topic Neuro Trauma, Critical Care, and Sports Neurology

Presentation(s) S26 - Neurocritical Care (2:40 PM-2:48 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 005

Objective To demonstrate the utility of vWF as a biomarker of TBI

Background Approximately 13.5 million individuals in the U.S. face disability secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Some of the major long-term sequelae of TBI are significant cognitive dysfunction and up to 2-3 times the risk of developing late-life dementia. The endothelial cell-derived vWF has been recognized as a biomarker cerebrovascular pathology and increased expression has been linked to both vascular and neurodegenerative forms of dementia.

Design/Methods We have measured the levels of plasma vWF in a cohort of 17 professional boxers (age 18-35, RPQ-3 score ≥1 and ≥ 25 blows to the head) both before and after boxing bouts. In addition, we have compared this data to the levels of plasma vWF in patients presenting to the University of Pennsylvania Trauma Center with TBI (n=42) vs uninjured controls (n=23).

Results

Following boxing bouts, there is a 1.8 fold increase in vWF levels within 30 minutes (p < 0.0009). Moreover, fold-change in vWF correlates moderately (r= 0.51; p= 0.03) with the number of head blows. We also found a positive correlation (r= 0.69; p= 0.002) between fold-changes in vWF and self-reported post-concussive symptoms, measured by the RPQ-3. In hospitalized TBI patients, we found a significant increase in serum vWF levels (mean + SD: 73.2 + 31.5 mg/mL) as compared to a control population (40.8 + 12.4 mg/mL, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Our data support the use of plasma vWF levels as biomarkers of TBI, which is sensitive to injury severity. Given the known role of vWF in microthromobosis, it represents an attractive candidate biomarker for traumatic microvascular injury.

Authors/Disclosures
Rachel E. Thomas, MD, PhD (Penn Medicine) PRESENTER	Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Erika Silverman (University of Pennsylvania)	Ms. Silverman has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Justin A. Morrison (Penn Presbyterian Medical Center)	Mr. Morrison has nothing to disclose.
Cian Dabrowski, MS	Cian Dabrowski has nothing to disclose.
Brigid A. Magdamo	Ms. Magdamo has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Danielle Sandsmark, MD	The institution of Dr. Sandsmark has received research support from NINDS. The institution of Dr. Sandsmark has received research support from BrainBox Solutions Inc. The institution of Dr. Sandsmark has received research support from Department of Defense.
Ramon R. Diaz-Arrastia, MD, PhD, FAAN (University of Pennsylvania)	Dr. Diaz-Arrastia has stock in BrainBox, LLC. Dr. Diaz-Arrastia has stock in Nia Therpeutics. The institution of Dr. Diaz-Arrastia has received research support from National Institutes of Health. The institution of Dr. Diaz-Arrastia has received research support from Department of Defense.

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