NfL levels predominantly increase at disease onset in MOG-Abs-associated disorders

Sara Mariotto; Matteo Gastaldi; Luisa Grazian; Chiara Mancinelli; Ruggero Capra; Romain Marignier; Daniela Alberti; Serena Zanzoni; Kathrin Schanda; Diego Franciotta; Francesca Calabria; Salvatore Monaco; Markus Reindl; Sergio Ferrari; Alberto Gajofatto

doi:10.1016/j.msard.2021.102833

NfL levels predominantly increase at disease onset in MOG-Abs-associated disorders

Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2021 May:50:102833. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.102833. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Section of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: sara.mariotto@gmail.com.
² Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, IRCCS, National Neurological Insitute C. Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
³ Pediatric Unit, ULSS 2 Marca Trevigiana, Ca' Foncello Hospital, Treviso, Italy.
⁴ Multiple Sclerosis Center, ASST - Spedali Civili of Brescia, Montichiari, Brescia, Italy.
⁵ Service de Neurologie, Sclérose en Plaques, Pathologies de la Myéline et Neuro-inflammation, and Centre de Référence des Maladies Inflammatoires Rares du Cerveau et de la Moelle, Hôpital Neurologique Pierre Wertheimer, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
⁶ Section of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
⁷ Centro Piattaforme Tecnologiche, University of Verona, Italy.
⁸ Clinical Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
⁹ Neurology Unit, AOUI Verona, Verona, Italy.

PMID: 33601213
DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.102833

Abstract

The unpredictable course and uncertain impact of relapses make treatment strategies of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies associated disorders (MOGAD) challenging. We analysed neurofilament light chain levels (NfL) in onset and follow-up sera of 18 patients with MOGAD to clarify the timing of axonal damage. In comparison with disease onset values (median 8.9 pg/mL, range 1.8-97), NfL levels remained stable or decreased in most follow-up measurements (n=52, median 6.7 pg/mL, range 0.2-207), including those measured on relapses. The predominant axonal damage occurs during onset, which could be the main driving factor of final disability, with subsequent relevant clinical and therapeutic implications.

Keywords: MOG; MOGAD; Myelitis; Neurofilament light chain levels; NfL; Optic neuritis.

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

Autoantibodies*
Humans
Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein

Substances

Autoantibodies
Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein