ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A2277 DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF SERUM BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract Background and aims Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Although CT and MRI are the gold standards for stroke diagnosis, their limited accessibility and reduced sensitivity in the hyperacute phase necessitate complementary biomarkers. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key regulator of neuronal survival and neuroplasticity, has been proposed as a potential diagnostic marker in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods This cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study was conducted at Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Forty-nine participants were enrolled, including 22 patients with CT-confirmed AIS and 27 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected at admission prior to treatment initiation. Serum BDNF levels were measured using ELISA. Diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, with the optimal cutoff determined by the Youden Index. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR.TBZMED.REC.1403.709). Results Serum BDNF levels were significantly lower in AIS patients compared with controls (median [IQR]: 0.18 [1.54] vs. 0.95 [2.24] ng/mL; p = 0.02). ROC analysis demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.688; 95% CI: 0.534–0.842; p = 0.029). A cutoff value of <0.250 ng/mL yielded a sensitivity of 79.2% and a specificity of 59.1%. Conclusions Serum BDNF levels are reduced in acute ischemic stroke and show moderate diagnostic accuracy. While insufficient as a standalone diagnostic tool, BDNF may serve as a complementary biomarker for early stroke detection. Larger studies are warranted. Conflict of interest Afshin Moradi: nothing to disclose. Asal Ebrahimian: nothing to disclose. Amirreza Naseri: nothing to disclose. Samad Shams Vahdati: nothing to disclose. Sarvin Sanaie: nothing to disclose. Mehdi Yousefi: nothing to disclose. Shayan Ahadi: nothing to disclose. Behnaz Ahmadi: nothing to disclose.