Neuron-Specific Enolase in Cerebrospinal Fluid Predicts Brain Injury After Sudden Unexpected Postnatal Collapse.

Background: Biomarkers of brain injury with high predictive value in newborns in critical neurological status are increasingly required. Neuron-specific enolase in cerebrospinal fluid has been shown to be highly predictive in newborns with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, but its utility has not been examined in sudden unexpected postnatal collapse.

Purpose: We analyzed whether the levels of neuron-specific enolase in cerebrospinal fluid can be a useful biomarker to estimate the severity of brain injury in neonates after a sudden unexpected postnatal collapse.

Usefulness of Cranial Ultrasound for Detecting Neonatal Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke.

Magnetic resonance imaging is the gold standard technique in establishing the diagnosis of neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS). The diagnostic value of cranial ultrasound scanning in this clinical context is controversial. We aimed to assess the current sensitivity of the cranial ultrasound scan (CUS) in detecting NAIS, as this issue has not been well described in the literature.