Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

<h4>Background</h4>To allow early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression, there is a need for biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurofilaments (NF) are emerging protein biomarkers in other neurological diseases, and are of possible use in ALS.<h4>Objective...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhouwei Xu, Robert David Henderson, Michael David, Pamela Ann McCombe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164625
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849430047432114176
author Zhouwei Xu
Robert David Henderson
Michael David
Pamela Ann McCombe
author_facet Zhouwei Xu
Robert David Henderson
Michael David
Pamela Ann McCombe
author_sort Zhouwei Xu
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>To allow early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression, there is a need for biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurofilaments (NF) are emerging protein biomarkers in other neurological diseases, and are of possible use in ALS.<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of NF levels as blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker in patients with ALS.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic search of Pubmed, Embase and Scopus was performed. Methodological quality assessment was applied to refine the final search results. Meta-analysis of the data was performed.<h4>Results</h4>Level of NF heavy chain and light chains were significantly elevated in the CSF of ALS patients compared to healthy controls/controls without parenchymal central nervous system (CNS) involvement and ALS mimic disease patients. NF light chain level in CSF was higher in ALS patients than in neurological patients with CNS involvement (SMD = 1.352, P = 0.01). NF light chain concentration in blood was higher in ALS patients than healthy controls/controls without CNS involvement (SMD = 1.448, P<0.0001). NF heavy chain levels in CSF were negatively correlated disease duration and ALSFRS-R ((r = -0.447, P<0.0001; r = -0.486, P<0.0001). NF light chain levels in CSF were negatively correlated with disease duration (r = -0.273, P = 0.011).<h4>Conclusion</h4>NF heavy and light chain levels have potential use as a marker of neural degeneration in ALS, but are not specific for the disease, and are more likely to be used as measures of disease progression.
format Article
id doaj-art-6cf9ba3a980e41d8bf0bbe69e5ad0a3f
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2016-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-6cf9ba3a980e41d8bf0bbe69e5ad0a3f2025-08-20T03:28:09ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-011110e016462510.1371/journal.pone.0164625Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Zhouwei XuRobert David HendersonMichael DavidPamela Ann McCombe<h4>Background</h4>To allow early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression, there is a need for biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurofilaments (NF) are emerging protein biomarkers in other neurological diseases, and are of possible use in ALS.<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of NF levels as blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker in patients with ALS.<h4>Methods</h4>A systematic search of Pubmed, Embase and Scopus was performed. Methodological quality assessment was applied to refine the final search results. Meta-analysis of the data was performed.<h4>Results</h4>Level of NF heavy chain and light chains were significantly elevated in the CSF of ALS patients compared to healthy controls/controls without parenchymal central nervous system (CNS) involvement and ALS mimic disease patients. NF light chain level in CSF was higher in ALS patients than in neurological patients with CNS involvement (SMD = 1.352, P = 0.01). NF light chain concentration in blood was higher in ALS patients than healthy controls/controls without CNS involvement (SMD = 1.448, P<0.0001). NF heavy chain levels in CSF were negatively correlated disease duration and ALSFRS-R ((r = -0.447, P<0.0001; r = -0.486, P<0.0001). NF light chain levels in CSF were negatively correlated with disease duration (r = -0.273, P = 0.011).<h4>Conclusion</h4>NF heavy and light chain levels have potential use as a marker of neural degeneration in ALS, but are not specific for the disease, and are more likely to be used as measures of disease progression.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164625
spellingShingle Zhouwei Xu
Robert David Henderson
Michael David
Pamela Ann McCombe
Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
PLoS ONE
title Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
title_full Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
title_fullStr Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
title_full_unstemmed Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
title_short Neurofilaments as Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
title_sort neurofilaments as biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164625
work_keys_str_mv AT zhouweixu neurofilamentsasbiomarkersforamyotrophiclateralsclerosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT robertdavidhenderson neurofilamentsasbiomarkersforamyotrophiclateralsclerosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT michaeldavid neurofilamentsasbiomarkersforamyotrophiclateralsclerosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT pamelaannmccombe neurofilamentsasbiomarkersforamyotrophiclateralsclerosisasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis