A new blood-based biomarker for cerebral small vessel disease
A prospective study published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging has identified a significant link between plasma levels of methylglyoxal (MGO), a glycolysis by-product, and the presence and severity of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. In 115 patients with small artery occlusion, elevated MGO levels measured within 72 hours of stroke onset were independently associated with cerebral small vessel disease and, more specifically, with the severity of deep white matter hyperintensities. The research, which utilized advanced MRI techniques for precise neuroimaging assessment, suggests that MGO could serve as a novel and accessible blood-based biomarker for this common and clinically significant cerebrovascular pathology.
Why it might matter to you: This study directly contributes to the expanding field of molecular diagnostics for neurological conditions, highlighting a potential new analyte for clinical chemistry and immunoassay development. For laboratory professionals, it underscores the growing importance of integrating novel biomarkers like MGO into diagnostic algorithms for stroke and cognitive impairment risk assessment. Validating and implementing such tests requires rigorous analytical accuracy and defined reference ranges, core competencies in laboratory medicine that are essential for translating this research into actionable clinical tools.
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