Serum Neurofilament Light: A Biomarker of Neuronal Damage in Multiple Sclerosis

Serum Neurofilament Light: A Biomarker of Neuronal Damage in Multiple Sclerosis

2017 | Giulio Disanto, MD, PhD,1 Christian Barro, MD,2 Pascal Benkert, PhD,3 Yvonne Naegelin, MD,2 Sabine Schädelin, MSc,3 Antonella Giardiello, MD,1 Chiara Zecca, MD,1 Kaj Blennow, PhD,4 Henrik Zetterberg, PhD,4,5 David Leppert, MD,2 Ludwig Kappos, MD,2 Claudio Gobbi, MD,1 Jens Kuhle, MD, PhD,2 and the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Cohort Study Group
This study investigates the value of serum neurofilament light chain (sNFL) as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). sNFL levels were measured in healthy controls and two independent MS cohorts: a cross-sectional cohort with paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, and a longitudinal cohort with repeated serum sampling. Results show that sNFL levels are significantly higher in MS patients compared to healthy controls, and are positively associated with age, CSF NFL levels, and focal lesions in the brain and spinal cord. sNFL levels are also associated with clinical outcomes such as relapses, disability worsening, and treatment status. Patients with sNFL levels above the 80th, 90th, 95th, 97.5th, and 99th percentiles had a higher risk of relapses and EDSS worsening. The study supports the use of sNFL as a sensitive and clinically meaningful biomarker for monitoring tissue damage and therapeutic effects in MS.This study investigates the value of serum neurofilament light chain (sNFL) as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). sNFL levels were measured in healthy controls and two independent MS cohorts: a cross-sectional cohort with paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, and a longitudinal cohort with repeated serum sampling. Results show that sNFL levels are significantly higher in MS patients compared to healthy controls, and are positively associated with age, CSF NFL levels, and focal lesions in the brain and spinal cord. sNFL levels are also associated with clinical outcomes such as relapses, disability worsening, and treatment status. Patients with sNFL levels above the 80th, 90th, 95th, 97.5th, and 99th percentiles had a higher risk of relapses and EDSS worsening. The study supports the use of sNFL as a sensitive and clinically meaningful biomarker for monitoring tissue damage and therapeutic effects in MS.
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