Tianjin Medical Journal ›› 2026, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (6): 598-602.doi: 10.11958/20253056

• Clinical Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The diagnostic value of serum NFL and NGB in elderly patients with sepsis associated encephalopathy

WU Yuanhui(), YAN Li, LI Linfang()   

  1. Department of Laboratory, Shenmu Hospital, Shenmu 719300, China
  • Received:2025-09-28 Revised:2026-01-18 Published:2026-06-15 Online:2026-06-15
  • Contact: E-mail:1047331069@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of serum neurofilament light chain (NFL) and neuroglobin (NGB) in elderly patients with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) and their diagnostic value. Methods A total of 128 elderly sepsis patients were divided into the SAE group (53 cases) and the non-SAE group (75 cases) based on the occurrence of SAE. Clinical data were collected. Serum NFL and NGB levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at different time points (0-6 h, 24 h and 48 h after diagnosis). Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between serum NFL and NGB levels at 0-6 h and SAE, and a probability risk model was constructed accordingly. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the auxiliary diagnostic value of NFL, NGB levels, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score for SAE. Results Serum NFL and NGB levels at 0-6 h, 24 h and 48 h were higher in the SAE group compared to those of the non-SAE group (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated serum NFL and NGB levels at 0-6 h, as well as higher SOFA and APACHE Ⅱ scores, were independent risk factors for SAE (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing SAE was 0.723 (95%CI: 0.695-0.854) for serum NFL at 0-6 h, 0.769 (95%CI: 0.607-0.836) for NGB at 0-6 h, 0.677 (95%CI: 0.568-0.774) for SOFA score, 0.700 (95%CI: 0.588-0.787) for APACHE Ⅱ score, and 0.894 (95%CI: 0.805-0.952) for the combination of all four factors. The combined application of the four factors was superior to their individual diagnostic values (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of serum NFL and NGB and related scores within 0 to 6 hours has relatively high diagnostic value for SAE in elderly sepsis patients.

Key words: sepsis-associated encephalopathy, neuroglobin, neurofilament light chain, early diagnosis

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