Work

Plasma levels of the neuron damage markers brain-derived tau and glial fibrillary acidic protein in Lyme neuroborreliosis: A longitudinal study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BackgroundA good and reliable blood biomarker of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) has not yet been identified. This study aimed to measure levels of the neuron damage markers GFAP and BD-tau during six months of follow-up and determine their capabilities as potential blood biomarkers as 1) treatment response and 2) prognostic value. MethodsA retrospective longitudinal observational cohort study including plasma taken at diagnosis, 3, and 6 months in adult patients with definite LNB enrolled at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet 2018-2020. BD-tau was measured on the Single molecule array (Simoa) HDX platform and GFAP was measured on the Simoa HD-X using the GFAP Discovery kit. Changes in concentrations between timepoints were analyzed by linear mixed models with an unstructured covariance pattern including follow-up as a categorical fixed effect.ResultsA total of 23 patients with 60 plasma samples were included for analysis; 12 patients had complete samples. Patients had a median age of 63 years, and the male/female ratio was 16/7. GFAP and BD-tau were with little variation during the study period. Patients with persistent symptoms seemed to have 55% higher concentrations of GFAP at diagnosis compared with patients with full recovery (p=0.09).ConclusionsIn this longitudinal study following patients with early LNB from diagnosis to six months after therapy, we did not find BD-tau or GFAP to be useful in monitoring treatment response. GFAP seemed higher at diagnosis in patients who had persistent symptoms but needs to be tested in a larger cohort.

Source: Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102459