scholarly journals Prognostic Value of Serum/Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain for COVID-19 Associated Mortality

Author(s):  
Ruturaj Masvekar ◽  
Peter Kosa ◽  
Kimberly Jin ◽  
Kerry Dobbs ◽  
Michael A Stack ◽  
...  

Given the continued spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), early predictors of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) mortality might improve patients outcomes. Increased levels of circulating neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker of neuro-axonal injury, have been observed in patients with severe COVID-19. We investigated whether NfL provides non-redundant clinical value to previously identified predictors of COVID-19 mortality. We measured serum or plasma NfL concentrations in a blinded fashion in 3 cohorts totaling 338 COVID-19 patients. In cohort 1, we found significantly elevated NfL levels only in critically ill COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. Longitudinal cohort 2 data showed that NfL is elevated late in the course of the disease, following two other prognostic markers of COVID-19: decrease in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Significant correlations between LDH and ALC abnormalities and subsequent rise of NfL implicate multi-organ failure as a likely cause of neuronal injury at the later stages of COVID-19. Addition of NfL to age and gender in cohort 1 significantly improved the accuracy of mortality prediction and these improvements were validated in cohorts 2 and 3. In conclusion, although substantial increase in serum/plasma NfL reproducibly enhances COVID-19 mortality prediction, NfL has clinically meaningful prognostic value only close to death, which may be too late to alter medical management. When combined with other prognostic biomarkers, rising longitudinal NfL measurements triggered by LDH and ALC abnormalities would identify patients at risk of COVID-19 associated mortality who might still benefit from escalated care.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. e856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter A. Häring ◽  
Harald Kropshofer ◽  
Ludwig Kappos ◽  
Jeffrey A. Cohen ◽  
Anuja Shah ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess the long-term prognostic value of an integral of longitudinal measurements of plasma neurofilament light chain levels (NfLlong) over 12 and 24 months vs single neurofilament light chain (NfL) measurements in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and its additional value when combined with clinical and MRI measures.MethodsThis analysis included continuously fingolimod-treated patients with RRMS from the 24-month FTY720 Research Evaluating Effects of Daily Oral therapy in Multiple Sclerosis (FREEDOMS)/12-month Trial Assessing Injectable Interferon vs FTY720 Oral in Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (TRANSFORMS) phase 3 trials and their long-term extension, LONGTERMS. Patients were classified into high (≥30 pg/mL, n = 110) and low (<30 pg/mL, n = 164) NfL categories based on the baseline (BL) NfL value or the geometric mean NfLlong calculated over 12 and 24 months to predict disability-related outcomes and brain volume loss (BVL). The additional prognostic value of NfL was quantified using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsA single high (vs low) NfL measure at BL was prognostic of a higher risk of reaching Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≥4 earlier (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.19; 95% CI = 1.21–3.97) and higher BVL over 120 months (difference: −1.12%; 95% CI = −2.07 to −0.17). When NfLlong was measured over 24 months, high NfL was associated with a higher risk of reaching EDSS score ≥4 (HR = 7.91; 95% CI = 2.99–20.92), accelerated 6-month confirmed disability worsening (HR = 3.14; 95% CI = 1.38–7.11), and 20% worsening in the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (HR = 3.05; 95% CI = 1.38–6.70). Area under the ROC curve was consistently highest in models combining NfL with clinical and MRI measures.ConclusionsNfLlong had a higher prognostic value than single NfL assessments on long-term outcomes in RRMS. Combining it with clinical and MRI measures increased sensitivity and specificity to predict long-term disease outcomes.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class I evidence that NfLlong was more strongly associated with long-term outcomes than single NfL assessments in patients with RRMS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1444-1451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Finn Sellebjerg ◽  
Lydia Royen ◽  
Per Soelberg Sørensen ◽  
Annette Bang Oturai ◽  
Poul Erik Hyldgaard Jensen

Background: Neurofilament light chain (NFL) and chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1) concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may have prognostic value in clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) and relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Objectives: To compare the prognostic value of CSF concentrations of NFL and CHI3L1 in newly diagnosed CIS and RRMS patients. Methods: NFL and CHI3L1 were measured in CSF in 177 newly diagnosed patients with CIS or RRMS who were followed clinically for a mean of 5.7 years. Results: At baseline CSF concentrations of NFL correlated with CSF concentrations of CHI3L1, relapses in the previous year, time from last relapse, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. CSF concentrations of NFL and CHI3L1 were both associated with increased relapse risk during the first 2 years in univariate analyses, but only the CSF concentration of NFL was independently associated with relapse risk in a multivariable analysis. There was no relationship between CSF concentrations of NFL or CHI3L1 and risk of conversion to secondary progressive MS or development of disability. Conclusion: CSF concentrations of NFL are associated with 2-year relapse risk but not with disease progression or clinical worsening in newly diagnosed CIS and RRMS patients. This may be due to confounding by the effect of disease-modifying therapies.


Epilepsia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oumarou Ouédraogo ◽  
Rose‐Marie Rébillard ◽  
Hélène Jamann ◽  
Victoria Hannah Mamane ◽  
Marie‐Laure Clénet ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. jnnp-2021-326914
Author(s):  
Dario Saracino ◽  
Karim Dorgham ◽  
Agnès Camuzat ◽  
Daisy Rinaldi ◽  
Armelle Rametti-Lacroux ◽  
...  

ObjectiveNeurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising biomarker in genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We evaluated plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) levels in controls, and their longitudinal trajectories in C9orf72 and GRN cohorts from presymptomatic to clinical stages.MethodsWe analysed pNfL using Single Molecule Array (SiMoA) in 668 samples (352 baseline and 316 follow-up) of C9orf72 and GRN patients, presymptomatic carriers (PS) and controls aged between 21 and 83. They were longitudinally evaluated over a period of >2 years, during which four PS became prodromal/symptomatic. Associations between pNfL and clinical–genetic variables, and longitudinal NfL changes, were investigated using generalised and linear mixed-effects models. Optimal cut-offs were determined using the Youden Index.ResultspNfL levels increased with age in controls, from ~5 to~18 pg/mL (p<0.0001), progressing over time (mean annualised rate of change (ARC): +3.9%/year, p<0.0001). Patients displayed higher levels and greater longitudinal progression (ARC: +26.7%, p<0.0001), with gene-specific trajectories. GRN patients had higher levels than C9orf72 (86.21 vs 39.49 pg/mL, p=0.014), and greater progression rates (ARC:+29.3% vs +24.7%; p=0.016). In C9orf72 patients, levels were associated with the phenotype (ALS: 71.76 pg/mL, FTD: 37.16, psychiatric: 15.3; p=0.003) and remarkably lower in slowly progressive patients (24.11, ARC: +2.5%; p=0.05). Mean ARC was +3.2% in PS and +7.3% in prodromal carriers. We proposed gene-specific cut-offs differentiating patients from controls by decades.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of gene-specific and age-specific references for clinical and therapeutic trials in genetic FTD/ALS. It supports the usefulness of repeating pNfL measurements and considering ARC as a prognostic marker of disease progression.Trial registration numbersNCT02590276 and NCT04014673.


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