Neurofilaments as a biomarker of axonal loss in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background Neurofilaments (NF-H) might be a potential biomarker of CNS tissue damage in MS, but their potential predictive value for the future disease course, disability, disease progression, and treatment response needs to be investigated. Aim of the work The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of serum phosphorylated neurofilament H as a marker in multiple sclerosis and correlate it's level with clinical expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and magnetic resonance imaging findings. Subjects and methods Study included 40 patients and 20 healthy control, 20 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 20 patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). All patients in this study were subjected to full history taking and clinical examination and scoring according to the EDSS scores, routine laboratory investigations, measuring of serum phosphorylated neurofilament-H (PNF-H) levels and neuroradiological assessment. Results Patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis were more likely to have a high serum (PNF-H) titer compared to patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, and these levels were significantly correlated with EDSS scores in both patients groups. Conclusion The increase in (PNF-H) titer during the progressive phase of the disease together with the correlation of (PNF-H) levels with all clinical scales and radiological lesions (e.g. gadolinium-enhanced lesions and black holes) suggests that cumulative axonal loss is responsible for sustained disability and that high (PNF-H) level is a poor prognostic sign.