Visualizing the prognostic value of neuron-specific enolase in acute ischemic stroke: a bibliometric analysis

In recent years, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been explored as a suitable biomarker for cerebral damage, specifically following ischemic stroke. This bibliometric analysis sought to illuminate patterns in research published on NSE’s value as a biomarker for ischemic stroke by examining prominent authors, keywords, countries, and organizations in this field. We conducted a bibliometric analysis using the Web of Science Core Collection. Publications were retrieved using the search string “ischemic stroke (Topic) AND enolase (Topic)” without language restriction, from database inception to June 2025. Extracted metadata were analyzed using VOSviewer (v1.6.20) to generate co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword maps. Analyses characterized key authors, institutions, and countries; mapped keyword co-occurrence; and described temporal trends. Bibliometric analysis was used to contextualize NSE’s prognostic value in ischemic stroke. A total of 465 documents were retrieved. China, the United States, and Germany were the most productive countries, with the U.S. having the highest citation impact. The University of Florida, Capital Medical University, and Central India Institute of Medical Sciences led institutional output. Ronald L. Hayes, Hatim F. Daginawala, and Robert S. B. Clark emerged as leading authors, with Clark having the highest citations. Frequently occurring keywords included “neuron-specific enolase,” “acute ischemic stroke,” and “cerebrospinal fluid.” Publication activity accelerated after 2016, with a notable rise from 2023 onward. This bibliometric mapping reveals global but fragmented research on NSE as a biomarker for ischemic stroke. While NSE shows promise, clinical studies remain inconsistent regarding its predictive value, highlighting the need for large-scale, multicenter investigations. Bibliometric analysis helps identify gaps and collaborations critical to advancing NSE’s translation into clinical practice.