Diagnostic value of serum neurofilament light chains in distinguishing between primary and secondary brain damage in cases of impaired consciousness in the emergency department

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00037957

Enrollment

158

Registered

2025-09-22

Start date

2025-09-29

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-02-02

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Patients with impaired consciousness in the emergency department

Interventions

Group 1: The study is a prospective, monocentric observational study conducted at the UKSH Kiel emergency department, in which adult patients with quantitative or qualitative consciousness disorders a

no additional examinations or blood samples are planned. Specifically, the blood biomarkers neurofilament light chains (NfL) and other biomarkers are determined. It is being investigated whether the c

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: consciousness disorder

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: age < 18 years

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The primary endpoint is the detection of significant differences in biomarker concentrations – with a focus on neurofilament light chains (NfL) in serum – between the three aetiological groups of consciousness disorders (primary structural, primary functional, secondary). The endpoint is checked once upon admission to the emergency room using the blood sample that is routinely taken as part of acute care and stored at the Institute for Clinical Chemistry. No additional study-related blood samples or clinical examinations will be performed on patients.	—

Measure

Time frame

The primary endpoint is the detection of significant differences in biomarker concentrations – with a focus on neurofilament light chains (NfL) in serum – between the three aetiological groups of consciousness disorders (primary structural, primary functional, secondary). The endpoint is checked once upon admission to the emergency room using the blood sample that is routinely taken as part of acute care and stored at the Institute for Clinical Chemistry. No additional study-related blood samples or clinical examinations will be performed on patients.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
As a secondary endpoint, the feasibility of using biomarkers such as NfL as a differentiation marker between primarily structural, primarily functional and secondary causes of consciousness disorders in routine emergency room diagnostics will be examined.	—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactJohannes Piel

Klinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein

johannes.piel@uksh.de+4943150023842

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 7, 2026