Role of Neurofilament Light Chain in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt

2 Neurology Department, Elsahel Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

3 Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.

Abstract

 Background: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is released from damaged neurons and elevated levels in the blood reflect ongoing neuroaxonal injury in multiple sclerosis (MS). Assessing NfL levels could provide insight into disease activity and treatment responses in MS patients.
Objective: To investigate the relationship of plasma NfL levels with clinical and MRI parameters and disability scores in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients.
Patient and method: Plasma NfL concentrations were measured by ELISA in 42 RRMS patients in remission and 42 healthy matched controls. Associations with demographics, disease characteristics, MRI lesion counts, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were analyzed.
Results: RRMS patients had significantly higher NfL levels than controls (p=0.009). Levels were lower in treated vs untreated patients (p<0.001) and correlated positively with age, disease duration, relapse numbers, T2-lesion burden, and EDSS scores (p<0.05). No correlation was observed with the recent relapse rate or treatment duration.
Conclusion: Increased plasma NfL levels were associated with greater disability in RRMS patients and were lowered by treatment, indicating potential neuroprotective effects. NfL could be a useful biomarker in monitoring subclinical disease activity and treatment responses longitudinally. 

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