Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain in relation to disability worsening in multiple sclerosis. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pauwels, Ayla; Van Schependom, Jeroen; Devolder, Lindsay; Van Remoortel, Ann; Nagels, Guy; Bjerke, Maria; D'hooghe, Marie B
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis. Volume 28:Number 11(2022)
• Page Start: 1685
• Page End: 1696
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis -- glial fibrillary acidic protein -- neurofilament light chain -- blood -- biomarker -- EDSS-Plus; Central nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Myelin sheath -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; Central Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Demyelinating Diseases -- Periodicals; Inflammation -- Periodicals; Multiple Sclerosis -- Periodicals; Système nerveux central -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Gaine de myéline -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Inflammation (Pathologie) -- Périodiques; Sclérose en plaques -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.834005
• DOI: 10.1177/13524585221094224
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1352-4585

Abstract

Background: Predicting disability worsening in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains an important challenge. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) seem promising biomarkers. Studies investigating blood GFAP in relation to longitudinal outcome measures in MS are scarce. Objective: To compare plasma-GFAP (p-GFAP) and plasma-NfL (p-NfL) levels in relation to sustained disability worsening. Methods: We measured baseline p-GFAP and p-NfL in a prospective cohort of 115 individuals with MS and 30 matched controls, using Single Molecule Array (Simoa). Disability worsening was defined as an increase in at least one of three measures (Expanded Disability Status Scale, Timed 25-foot walk, 9-Hole Peg test), confirmed after 6 months and persistent upon data closure. Results: In a multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model, p-GFAP was not significantly associated with sustained disability worsening after 4.40 ± 0.82 years, while p-NfL (HR = 1.046, p = 0.001), EDSS (HR = 1.24, p = 0.039), and disease duration (HR = 1.048, p = 0.017) were. Area under the curve of ROC curves in relation to worsening was 0.61 for p-GFAP ( p = 0.031) and 0.63 for p-NfL ( p = 0.015). Kaplan–Meier curves showed similar patterns for both proteins. Conclusion: p-NfL emerged as a significant explanatory variable for worsening in Cox regression analysis, and p-GFAP did not. Both p-GFAP and p-NfL were related to worsening based on ROC curves.