Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System
Background: Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare vasculitis affecting CNS blood vessels, posing diagnostic challenges due to the limited specificity of the established diagnostic tools. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) might be a promising biomarker in PACNS. Methods: NfL...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Christina Krüger Hans Pinnschmidt Maximilian Wilmes Justina Dargvainiene Frank Leypoldt Alexander Seiler Daniela Berg Tim Magnus Milani Deb-Chatterji |
| author_facet | Christina Krüger Hans Pinnschmidt Maximilian Wilmes Justina Dargvainiene Frank Leypoldt Alexander Seiler Daniela Berg Tim Magnus Milani Deb-Chatterji |
| author_sort | Christina Krüger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare vasculitis affecting CNS blood vessels, posing diagnostic challenges due to the limited specificity of the established diagnostic tools. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) might be a promising biomarker in PACNS. Methods: NfL in serum and CSF was measured in 33 PACNS patients (25 active [aPACNS], 8 in remission [rPACNS]) enrolled between 2014 and 2022 and compared to controls (serum: <i>n</i> = 303; CSF: <i>n</i> = 68); Results: Serum NfL was significantly elevated in aPACNS (median: 45.77 pg/mL) versus rPACNS (6.68 pg/mL; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and healthy controls (6.05 pg/mL; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Similarly, CSF NfL was significantly elevated in aPACNS (median: 4914.58 pg/mL) compared to rPACNS (301.19 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.002) and controls (262.83 pg/mL; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Serum and CSF NfL were significantly correlated (r = 0.90, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, an association between elevated NfL and ischemic lesions was observed (serum: r = 0.59, <i>p</i> = 0.006; CSF: r = 0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.032). A subgroup analysis excluding stroke patients still revealed elevated NfL in 90% (CSF) and 50% (serum), with diminishing discriminatory power with older age. Conclusions: NfL holds potential as a biomarker for PACNS, in particular in younger patients. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-e06628f19b424f2e970d7b88c9ea2f762025-08-20T03:17:52ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-06-01141396610.3390/cells14130966Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous SystemChristina Krüger0Hans Pinnschmidt1Maximilian Wilmes2Justina Dargvainiene3Frank Leypoldt4Alexander Seiler5Daniela Berg6Tim Magnus7Milani Deb-Chatterji8Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, GermanyInstitute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, GermanyNeuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, 24105 Kiel, GermanyNeuroimmunology Section, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, 24105 Kiel, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, 24105 Kiel, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, 24105 Kiel, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, 24105 Kiel, GermanyBackground: Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare vasculitis affecting CNS blood vessels, posing diagnostic challenges due to the limited specificity of the established diagnostic tools. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) might be a promising biomarker in PACNS. Methods: NfL in serum and CSF was measured in 33 PACNS patients (25 active [aPACNS], 8 in remission [rPACNS]) enrolled between 2014 and 2022 and compared to controls (serum: <i>n</i> = 303; CSF: <i>n</i> = 68); Results: Serum NfL was significantly elevated in aPACNS (median: 45.77 pg/mL) versus rPACNS (6.68 pg/mL; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and healthy controls (6.05 pg/mL; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Similarly, CSF NfL was significantly elevated in aPACNS (median: 4914.58 pg/mL) compared to rPACNS (301.19 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.002) and controls (262.83 pg/mL; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Serum and CSF NfL were significantly correlated (r = 0.90, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, an association between elevated NfL and ischemic lesions was observed (serum: r = 0.59, <i>p</i> = 0.006; CSF: r = 0.43, <i>p</i> = 0.032). A subgroup analysis excluding stroke patients still revealed elevated NfL in 90% (CSF) and 50% (serum), with diminishing discriminatory power with older age. Conclusions: NfL holds potential as a biomarker for PACNS, in particular in younger patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/13/966PACNSNfLvasculitisbiomarkerstrokeautoimmune diseases |
| spellingShingle | Christina Krüger Hans Pinnschmidt Maximilian Wilmes Justina Dargvainiene Frank Leypoldt Alexander Seiler Daniela Berg Tim Magnus Milani Deb-Chatterji Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System Cells PACNS NfL vasculitis biomarker stroke autoimmune diseases |
| title | Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System |
| title_full | Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System |
| title_fullStr | Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System |
| title_short | Neurofilament Light Chain in Serum and CSF as a Potential Biomarker for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System |
| title_sort | neurofilament light chain in serum and csf as a potential biomarker for primary angiitis of the central nervous system |
| topic | PACNS NfL vasculitis biomarker stroke autoimmune diseases |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/13/966 |
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