Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders | September 27, 2020

Friedova L, Motyl J, Srpova B, Oechtering J, Barro C, Vodehnalova K, Andelova M, Noskova L, Fialová L, Havrdova EK, Horakova D, Benedict RH, Kuhle J and Uher T

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders. 2020;46:102534

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2020.102534

This study was performed using a Simoa homebrew assay.

Abstract

Background

Neurofilament light chain level in serum (sNfL) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-NfL) is a promising biomarker of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, predictive value of neurofilaments for development of cognitive decline over long-term follow-up has not been extensively studied.

Objective

To investigate the relationship between early neurofilament levels and cognitive performance after 9-years.

Methods

We included 58 MS patients from the SET study. sNfL levels were measured at screening, at 1 and 2 years. CSF-NfL were measured in 36 patients at screening. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test-3 s at baseline, at 1, 2 and 9 years. Association between neurofilament levels and cognition was analyzed using Spearman´s correlation, logistic regression and mixed models.

Results

We did not observe associations among early sNfL levels and cross-sectional or longitudinal cognitive measures, except of a trend for association between higher sNfL levels at screening and lower California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II) scores at year 1 (rho=-0.31, unadjusted p = 0.028). Higher sNfL level was not associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, except of a trend for greater risk of CVLT-II decrease in patients with higher sNfL levels at 1 year (OR=15.8; 95% CI=1.7–147.0; unadjusted p = 0.015). Similar trends were observed for CSF-NfL.

Conclusion

We found only weak association between sNfL levels at disease onset and evolution of cognitive performance over long-term follow-up.