NEFL and cerebral malaria: Indeed, the validity of NF-L as a neuronal marker whose levels in blood circulation are not influenced by BBB permeability has been observed in a mouse model of brain injury.36 Nevertheless, elevations in the highly abundant CNS protein UCH-L1 trended positively with the degree of BBB disruption as determined by increased albumin in the CSF, which was observed in 33% of the children with cerebral malaria in this cohort.