Contributions
Abstract: P458
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neurodegeneration
Background: Neurofilaments are structural proteins of neurons, axons and dendrites and increased levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) have been reported in serum of Multiple Sclerosis patients, correlating with CSF levels, disease severity, worse clinical outcome and MRI lesions. Current NfL observations do not include correlations with cognitive deficits and brain atrophy, which mostly have axonal loss as pathological substrate.
Objective: to evaluate in a sample of homogeneous MS patients with relapsing remitting course and same therapy, the correlation between serum NfL levels and cognitive impairment as well as brain atrophy.
Methods: 18 right handed relapsing remitting MS patients (mean age 45 years, mean EDSS 2), prescribed with interferon beta 1a from no more than a semester, were submitted to neuropsychological evaluation with Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB) and Delis Kaplan Executive Function Sorting (DKEFS) tests, MRI to assess gray matter volume and density and NfL serum concentration by using SR-X immunoassay analyzed, Simoa TM, which runs ultrasensitive paramagnetic bead-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Quanterix Corp, Boston, MA).
Results: a significantly increased serum NfL level was found in MS cases compared to age matched controls (p=.03). Serum NfL correlated with age (Pearson r=.58; p=.001). A positive correlation was found between serum NfL and Cognitive Impairment Index (CII, calculated by summing -z scores in each cognitive test, Spearman p=.04), memory (Selective reminding test, Spearman p< .05) and executive function (DKEFS Sorting test description p=.03) tests. More severely impaired patients in cognition (CII>8) had significantly higher serum NfL (9.04 pg/ml) than less severely impaired ones (6,31 pg/ml; Mann Whitney p=.003). A significant correlation was found between NfL and GM density in the right parahippocampus and between CII and GM density in the right prefrontal region.
Conclusions: serum NfL values are related to cognitive deficits and to measures of brain atrophy. These data, though obtained in a small sample, support the future use of serum NfL as a surrogate marker of disability in MS patients, with particular regard to axonal injury.
Disclosure: The authors have no disclosures.
Abstract: P458
Type: Poster Sessions
Abstract Category: Pathology and pathogenesis of MS - Neurodegeneration
Background: Neurofilaments are structural proteins of neurons, axons and dendrites and increased levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) have been reported in serum of Multiple Sclerosis patients, correlating with CSF levels, disease severity, worse clinical outcome and MRI lesions. Current NfL observations do not include correlations with cognitive deficits and brain atrophy, which mostly have axonal loss as pathological substrate.
Objective: to evaluate in a sample of homogeneous MS patients with relapsing remitting course and same therapy, the correlation between serum NfL levels and cognitive impairment as well as brain atrophy.
Methods: 18 right handed relapsing remitting MS patients (mean age 45 years, mean EDSS 2), prescribed with interferon beta 1a from no more than a semester, were submitted to neuropsychological evaluation with Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB) and Delis Kaplan Executive Function Sorting (DKEFS) tests, MRI to assess gray matter volume and density and NfL serum concentration by using SR-X immunoassay analyzed, Simoa TM, which runs ultrasensitive paramagnetic bead-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Quanterix Corp, Boston, MA).
Results: a significantly increased serum NfL level was found in MS cases compared to age matched controls (p=.03). Serum NfL correlated with age (Pearson r=.58; p=.001). A positive correlation was found between serum NfL and Cognitive Impairment Index (CII, calculated by summing -z scores in each cognitive test, Spearman p=.04), memory (Selective reminding test, Spearman p< .05) and executive function (DKEFS Sorting test description p=.03) tests. More severely impaired patients in cognition (CII>8) had significantly higher serum NfL (9.04 pg/ml) than less severely impaired ones (6,31 pg/ml; Mann Whitney p=.003). A significant correlation was found between NfL and GM density in the right parahippocampus and between CII and GM density in the right prefrontal region.
Conclusions: serum NfL values are related to cognitive deficits and to measures of brain atrophy. These data, though obtained in a small sample, support the future use of serum NfL as a surrogate marker of disability in MS patients, with particular regard to axonal injury.
Disclosure: The authors have no disclosures.