Neurofilament light chain as a biomarker for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Authors

  • Ebrahim Kouchaki Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2942-5304
  • Fatemeh Dashti School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3575-0237
  • Sayad Mohamad Ali Mirazimi School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran; Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5705-9191
  • Zahra Alirezaei Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Paramedical School, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4094-7042
  • Seyed Hamed Jafari Medical Imaging Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. E-mail: hamed338@yahoo.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5364-2566
  • Michael R. Hamblin Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa. E-mail: Hamblin.lab@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6431-4605
  • Hamed Mirzaei Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran. Tel: +98-31-55540022; Fax: +98-31-55540022; E-mail: mirzaei-h@kaums.ac.ir; h.mirzaei2002@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9399-8281

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3973

Keywords:

multiple sclerosis, neurofilament light chain, diagnosis

Abstract

The treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) have improved over the past 25 years, but now the main question for physicians is deciding who should receive treatment, for how long, and when to switch to other options. These decisions are typically based on treatment tolerance and a reasonable expectation of long-term efficacy. A significant unmet need is the lack of accurate laboratory measurements for diagnosis, and monitoring of treatment response, including deterioration and disease progression. There are few validated biomarkers for MS, and in practice, physicians employ two biomarkers discovered fifty years ago for MS diagnosis, often in combination with MRI scans. These biomarkers are intrathecal IgG and oligoclonal bands in the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a relatively new biomarker for MS diagnosis and follow up. Neurofilaments are neuron-specific cytoskeleton proteins that can be measured in various body compartments. NfL is a new biomarker for MS that can be measured in serum samples, but this still needs further study to specify the laboratory cut-off values in clinical practice. In the present review we discuss the evidence for NfL as a reliable biomarker for the early detection and management of MS. Moreover, we highlight the correlation between MRI and NfL, and ask whether they can be combined.

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Published

2021-08-16

How to Cite

Kouchaki, E. ., Dashti, F. ., Mirazimi, S. M. A. ., Alirezaei, Z. ., Jafari, S. H. ., Hamblin, M. R., & Mirzaei, H. (2021). Neurofilament light chain as a biomarker for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis . EXCLI Journal, 20, 1308–1325. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3973

Issue

Vol. 20 (2021)

Section

Review articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Ebrahim Kouchaki, Fatemeh Dashti, Sayad Mohamad Ali Mirazimi, Zahra Alirezaei, Seyed Hamed Jafari, Michael R. Hamblin, Hamed Mirzaei

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