SERUM PHOSPHORYLATED NEUROFILAMENT HEAVY CHAIN AS A MARKER OF AXONAL INJURY AND DISEASE SEVERITY IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Abstract Axonal damage is the main cause of irreversible neurological complication in multiple sclerosis (MS). Neurofilaments (NFs) are intermediate filaments are present in large amount in axons that responsible for the radial growth of axons and the transmission of electrical impulses. Serum phosphorylated neurofilament-heavy (pNf-H) can be used as a marker to evaluate the presence axonal damage. Aim: To evaluate whether serum pNF-H levels are related to disease severity and the disability in MS patients. Subjects and methods: Study included 35 patients and 35 healthy control. All Subjects were evaluated by history taking, general examination, neurological evaluation and disability scoring by the Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS), Routine Laboratory Investigations, measuring pNF-H levels and neuroradiological assessment using Magnetic resonance image (MRI) to establish MS diagnosis. Results: higher levels of pNF-H in MS patients compared to healthy controls. The highest levels of proteins were in the secondary progressive MS and these levels significantly correlated with disease severity measured by EDSS.