Researchers have developed a promising blood test that may enable rapid identification of stroke types before patients arrive at the hospital, potentially transforming emergency stroke treatment strategies. In a study presented at the upcoming American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference, researchers discovered that blood levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) could differentiate between hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes with remarkable accuracy. The study, conducted by Love-Preet Kalra, M.D., from RKH Hospital Klinikum Ludwigsburg in Germany, analyzed blood samples from 353 patients with an average age of 75.
The research revealed significant variations in GFAP levels between different stroke types. Patients with bleeding strokes demonstrated GFAP levels nearly seven times higher than those with clot-caused strokes. The test showed 90%-95% accuracy in predicting stroke types when using age-based cut-off points. Current stroke diagnosis methods often involve time-consuming imaging processes, during which critical brain cells continue to die. The proposed blood test could dramatically reduce diagnostic time, allowing medical professionals to initiate appropriate treatments more quickly.
Key findings indicate that GFAP levels were almost seven times higher in bleeding stroke patients compared to clot-caused stroke patients. The test was particularly effective in patients with moderate to severe neurological deficits, potentially ruling out bleeding strokes when GFAP levels were below 30 picograms per milliliter. Dr. Kalra suggested that if larger studies confirm these results, early GFAP measurements could revolutionize stroke treatment. Potential benefits include performing blood pressure management and reversing blood-thinning medications in pre-hospital settings.
However, the research has limitations. The current test requires a centrifugation step, and GFAP levels naturally increase with age, which could complicate identification of small bleeding strokes in elderly patients. Louise D. McCullough, an American Heart Association expert not involved in the study, noted that while promising, the research requires further validation. Critical challenges include developing a portable, rapid testing method for emergency medical services. The study represents a significant step toward more precise and timely stroke diagnosis, potentially improving patient outcomes by enabling faster, more targeted treatments.
