PMC

RTP = return to play.

(A–C) Correlation between age and blood-based biomarkers in concussed athletes and preseason sample controls (both healthy controls and gymnasts). The ρ and p value are from the Spearman rank correlation. NfL = neurofilament light; NSE = neuron-specific enolase; S100B = S100 calcium-binding protein.

(A–D) Dynamic of blood neurofilament light (NfL), tau, S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in concussed professional hockey players measured at 1, 12, 36, and 144 hours, and when the players returned to play. The black dotted lines in each plot show the median of the preseason samples.

(A) Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the biomarkers at 1 hour after SRC in players with return to play (RTP) >10 days vs RTP ≤10 days. (B) AUROC for the biomarkers at 144 hours after SRC in players with persistent postconcussion symptoms who eventually resigned vs players who could RTP. NfL = neurofilament light; NSE = neuron-specific enolase; S100B = S100 calcium-binding protein B.