1. Sign our petition calling on Cochrane to withdraw their review of Exercise Therapy for CFS here.
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Guest, the 'News in Brief' for the week beginning 18th March 2024 is here.
    Dismiss Notice
  3. Welcome! To read the Core Purpose and Values of our forum, click here.
    Dismiss Notice

Blood Neurofilament Light Chain: The Neurologist’s Troponin?, 2020, Thebault et al

Discussion in 'Other health news and research' started by Hutan, Aug 4, 2021.

  1. Hutan

    Hutan Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    26,534
    Location:
    Aotearoa New Zealand
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7700209/#B47-biomedicines-08-00523

    Abstract

    Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a marker of neuro-axonal injury showing promising associations with outcomes of interest in several neurological conditions. Although initially discovered and investigated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the recent development of ultrasensitive digital immunoassay technologies has enabled reliable detection in serum/plasma, obviating the need for invasive lumbar punctures for longitudinal assessment.

    The most evidence for utility relates to multiple sclerosis (MS) where it serves as an objective measure of both the inflammatory and degenerative pathologies that characterise this disease.

    In this review, we summarise the physiology and pathophysiology of neurofilaments before focusing on the technological advancements that have enabled reliable quantification of NfL in blood. As the test case for clinical translation, we then highlight important recent developments linking blood NfL levels to outcomes in MS and the next steps to be overcome before this test is adopted on a routine clinical basis.​


    Canadian team (Thebault, Booth, Freedman) on the development of techniques to quantify a marker of nerve damage.
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2021
  2. Hutan

    Hutan Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    26,534
    Location:
    Aotearoa New Zealand
    This is an interesting paper, not least because having a method to evaluate neuronal damage in neurological conditions like MS and Alzheimers is a game changer. For example:
    NfL was measured in a recent Italian study of Long Covid, but was only identified in 1 out of the 10 cases. It does degrade over time, so it is possible that if there was nerve damage at Long Covid onset, it could have disappeared by the time of the 6 month evaluation.


    The neurofilament light chains aren't the only possible marker of nerve damage. Note the peripherin - in the peripheral nervous system. Perhaps that could tell us if there is peripheral nerve damage without having to biopsy everywhere to find it?
     
  3. Hutan

    Hutan Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    26,534
    Location:
    Aotearoa New Zealand
    47. Ameres M., Brandstetter S., Toncheva A.A., Kabesch M., Leppert D., Kuhle J., Wellmann S. Association of neuronal injury blood marker neurofilament light chain with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. J. Neurol. 2020 doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-10050-y. [PMC free article]

    We don't have a thread for the Ameres paper - I'll make one as it looks relevant.
    Here: Association of neuronal injury blood marker neurofilament light chain with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, 2020, Ameres et al
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2021

Share This Page