The Association of Umbilical Cord Blood Neurofilament Light With Nonreassuring Fetal Status: A Prospective Observational Study

Obstetric Anesthesia Digest 2026 Open access

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Authors: David Zalcberg, K Kramer, Emma Payne, Thomas Payne, S Marathe, Neha S. Mahajan, A Liu, Jessica M. Barry, Andrew David Duckworth, M Brookes, Bradley Stephen de Vries, Fernando González‐Ortiz
+6 more Kaj Blennow, Henrik Zetterberg, A Gordon, Benjamin Moran, Helen J. Manning, Robert David Sanders
DOI: 10.1097/01.aoa.0001237784.24015.66
Cited by: 1
References: 25

Abstract

( Int J Gynaecol Obstet . 2026 Mar;172(3):1491–1500. doi:10.1002/ijgo.70421) A prospective observational study explored whether neurofilament light (NfL), a marker of neuronal injury, can be reliably measured in umbilical cord blood and whether it is associated with nonreassuring fetal status and neonatal outcomes. Early identification of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is essential, as therapeutic hypothermia must begin within six hours of birth to be effective. However, current diagnostic tools, such as clinical assessments and cord blood acid-base measurements, lack specificity for detecting neuronal injury. As a result, there is a need for more sensitive biomarkers that can better reflect fetal hypoxia and neurological compromise.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Neonatal and fetal brain pathology Fetal and Pediatric Neurological Disorders Neonatal Respiratory Health Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Obstetric Anesthesia Digest
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Volume
46
Issue
3
Pages
135–137
Publication date
21 August 2026
Language
EN