Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse

Introduction. One of the newest methods that could facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis is the measurement of neurofilament levels in the blood and spinal fluid. Neurofilament chains can be found not only in multiple sclerosis but also in other neurodegenerative diseases. La...

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Main Authors: P. Beliaziūnas, R. Godelienė, L. Malcienė, V. Natkevičius, V. Gintauskienė, B. Šitkauskienė, M. Malciūtė
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2021-03-01
Series:Neurologijos seminarai
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Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27704
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author P. Beliaziūnas
R. Godelienė
L. Malcienė
V. Natkevičius
V. Gintauskienė
B. Šitkauskienė
M. Malciūtė
author_facet P. Beliaziūnas
R. Godelienė
L. Malcienė
V. Natkevičius
V. Gintauskienė
B. Šitkauskienė
M. Malciūtė
author_sort P. Beliaziūnas
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. One of the newest methods that could facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis is the measurement of neurofilament levels in the blood and spinal fluid. Neurofilament chains can be found not only in multiple sclerosis but also in other neurodegenerative diseases. Latest research findings have revealed that neurofilament levels in serum along with magnetic resonance imaging and clinical evaluation could help evaluate disease relapses and prognosis. No research on neurofilament levels in multiple sclerosis patients has been done in Lithuania so far. Methods. Permit No. BE-2-73 was obtained from Kaunas Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. Using random sampling we examined 28 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were treated for relapse in the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Klaipėda University Hospital. Demographic and clinical data and disease modifying therapies were evaluated. Neurofilament heavy chains levels in the blood were measured using ELISA immunoenzyme assay. Results. The research involved 28 patients: 64.3% women and 25.7% men. Neurofilament heavy chains levels in the blood were higher in patients with 3 or more functional systems affected, compared with patients with only pyramidal or cerebellar systems damaged but the difference was not statistically significant. Significantly higher neurofilament heavy chains levels were found in patients with hyperintense magnetic resonance imaging T2 lesions in both brain and spinal cord areas and with contrast-enhanced lesions. Higher neurofilament heavy chains levels were associated with positive oligoclonal bands and prolonged visual evoked potentials. No significant correlation between disease duration, age, disability, and neurofilament heavy chains levels was found. Patients with no disease modifying treatment had higher serum neurofilament heavy chains levels but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion. We found higher serum neurofilament heavy chains levels in patients with 3 and more functional systems affected, radiological disease activity, positive oligoclonal bands, and prolonged visual evoked potentials. These results support the hypothesis that neurofilaments could be a promising biomarker for evaluation of multiple sclerosis relapse and disease prognosis in clinical practice.
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series Neurologijos seminarai
spelling doaj-art-23a38b9e1a5740408aa1e8b618668dbe2025-01-20T18:22:28ZengVilnius University PressNeurologijos seminarai1392-30642424-59172021-03-01251(87)10.29014/ns.2021.07Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapseP. Beliaziūnas0R. Godelienė 1L. Malcienė 2V. Natkevičius 3V. Gintauskienė 4B. Šitkauskienė 5M. Malciūtė 6Klaipėda University hospital, LithuaniaKlaipėda University hospital, LithuaniaLithuanian University of Health SciencesLithuanian University of Health SciencesLithuanian University of Health SciencesLithuanian University of Health SciencesLithuanian University of Health Sciences Introduction. One of the newest methods that could facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis is the measurement of neurofilament levels in the blood and spinal fluid. Neurofilament chains can be found not only in multiple sclerosis but also in other neurodegenerative diseases. Latest research findings have revealed that neurofilament levels in serum along with magnetic resonance imaging and clinical evaluation could help evaluate disease relapses and prognosis. No research on neurofilament levels in multiple sclerosis patients has been done in Lithuania so far. Methods. Permit No. BE-2-73 was obtained from Kaunas Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. Using random sampling we examined 28 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were treated for relapse in the Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Klaipėda University Hospital. Demographic and clinical data and disease modifying therapies were evaluated. Neurofilament heavy chains levels in the blood were measured using ELISA immunoenzyme assay. Results. The research involved 28 patients: 64.3% women and 25.7% men. Neurofilament heavy chains levels in the blood were higher in patients with 3 or more functional systems affected, compared with patients with only pyramidal or cerebellar systems damaged but the difference was not statistically significant. Significantly higher neurofilament heavy chains levels were found in patients with hyperintense magnetic resonance imaging T2 lesions in both brain and spinal cord areas and with contrast-enhanced lesions. Higher neurofilament heavy chains levels were associated with positive oligoclonal bands and prolonged visual evoked potentials. No significant correlation between disease duration, age, disability, and neurofilament heavy chains levels was found. Patients with no disease modifying treatment had higher serum neurofilament heavy chains levels but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion. We found higher serum neurofilament heavy chains levels in patients with 3 and more functional systems affected, radiological disease activity, positive oligoclonal bands, and prolonged visual evoked potentials. These results support the hypothesis that neurofilaments could be a promising biomarker for evaluation of multiple sclerosis relapse and disease prognosis in clinical practice. https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27704neurofilamentmultiple sclerosisrelapseneurodegeneration
spellingShingle P. Beliaziūnas
R. Godelienė
L. Malcienė
V. Natkevičius
V. Gintauskienė
B. Šitkauskienė
M. Malciūtė
Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse
Neurologijos seminarai
neurofilament
multiple sclerosis
relapse
neurodegeneration
title Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse
title_full Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse
title_fullStr Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse
title_full_unstemmed Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse
title_short Serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse
title_sort serum neurofilament heavy chains as a biomarker of neuronal damage in multiple sclerosis relapse
topic neurofilament
multiple sclerosis
relapse
neurodegeneration
url https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27704
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AT vnatkevicius serumneurofilamentheavychainsasabiomarkerofneuronaldamageinmultiplesclerosisrelapse
AT vgintauskiene serumneurofilamentheavychainsasabiomarkerofneuronaldamageinmultiplesclerosisrelapse
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