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Ziccardi S, Tamanti A, Ruggieri C, Guandalini M, Marastoni D, Camera V, Montibeller L, Mazziotti V, Rossi S, Calderone M, Pizzini FB, Montemezzi S, Magliozzi R, Calabrese M. CSF Parvalbumin Levels at Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis Predict Future Worse Cognition, Physical Disability, Fatigue, and Gray Matter Damage. NEUROLOGY(R) NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION 2024; 11:e200301. [PMID: 39178066 PMCID: PMC11368234 DOI: 10.1212/nxi.0000000000200301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cognitive impairment (CI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is frequent and determined by a complex interplay between inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. We aimed to investigate whether CSF parvalbumin (PVALB), measured at the time of diagnosis, may have a prognostic role in patients with MS. METHODS In this cohort study, CSF analysis of PVALB and Nf-L levels was performed on all patients at diagnosis (T0) and combined with physical, cognitive, and MRI assessment after an average of 4 years of follow-up (T4) from diagnosis. Cognitive performance was evaluated with a comprehensive neuropsychologic battery: both global (cognitively normal, CN, mildly CI, mCI, and severely CI, sCI) and domain cognitive status (normal/impaired in memory, attention/information processing speed, and executive functions) were considered. Cortical thickness and gray matter volume data were acquired using 3T MRI scanner. RESULTS A total of 72 patients with MS were included. At diagnosis, PVALB levels were higher in those patients who showed a worsening physical disability after 4 years of follow-up (p = 0.011). CSF PVALB levels were higher in sCI patients than in CN (p = 0.033). Moreover, higher PVALB levels significantly correlated with worse global cognitive (p = 0.024) and memory functioning (p = 0.044). A preliminary clinical threshold for PVALB levels at diagnosis was proposed (2.57 ng/mL), which maximizes the risk of showing CI (in particular, sCI) at follow-up, with a sensitivity of 91% (specificity 30%). No significant results were found for these associations with Nf-L. In addition, patients with higher levels of PVALB at diagnosis showed higher cognitive (p = 0.024) and global fatigue (p = 0.043) at follow-up. Finally, higher PVALB levels also correlated significantly with more pronounced CTh/volume at T4 in the inferior frontal gyrus (p = 0.044), postcentral gyrus (p = 0.025), frontal pole (p = 0.042), transverse temporal gyrus (p = 0.008), and cerebellar cortex (p = 0.041) and higher atrophy (change T0-T4) in the right thalamus (p = 0.038), pericalcarine cortex (p = 0.009), lingual gyrus (p = 0.045), and medial frontal gyrus (p = 0.028). DISCUSSION The significant association found between parvalbumin levels in the CSF at diagnosis and cognitive, clinical, and neuroradiologic worsening after 4 years of follow-up support the idea that parvalbumin, in addition to Nf-L, might represent a new potential prognostic biomarker, reflecting MS neurodegenerative processes occurring since early disease stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Ziccardi
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Agnese Tamanti
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Claudia Ruggieri
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Maddalena Guandalini
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Damiano Marastoni
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Valentina Camera
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Luigi Montibeller
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Valentina Mazziotti
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Stefania Rossi
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Milena Calderone
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Benedetta Pizzini
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Stefania Montemezzi
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Roberta Magliozzi
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Calabrese
- From the Department of Neurosciences (S.Z., A.T., C.R., M.G., D.M., V.C., L.M., V.M., S.R., R.M., M. Calabrese), Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona; Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine (S.R.), Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; Radiology Unit (M. Calderone), Cmsr Veneto Medica s.r.l., Altavilla Vicentina, Vicenza; and Institute of Radiology (F.B.P., S.M.), University of Verona, Italy
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Fissolo N, Benkert P, Sastre-Garriga J, Mongay-Ochoa N, Vilaseca-Jolonch A, Llufriu S, Blanco Y, Hegen H, Berek K, Perez-Miralles F, Rejdak K, Villar LM, Monreal E, Alvarez-Lafuente R, Soylu OK, Abdelhak A, Bachhuber F, Tumani H, Martínez-Yélamos S, Sánchez-López AJ, García-Merino A, Gutiérrez L, Castillo-Trivino T, Lycke J, Rosenstein I, Furlan R, Filippi M, Téllez N, Ramió-Torrentà L, Lünemann JD, Wiendl H, Eichau S, Khalil M, Kuhle J, Montalban X, Comabella M. Serum biomarker levels predict disability progression in patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2024; 95:410-418. [PMID: 37940409 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2023-332251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the potential of serum biomarker levels to predict disability progression in a multicentric real-world cohort of patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). METHODS A total of 141 patients with PPMS from 18 European MS centres were included. Disability progression was investigated using change in Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score over three time intervals: baseline to 2 years, 6 years and to the last follow-up. Serum levels of neurofilament light chain (sNfL), glial fibrillar acidic protein (sGFAP) and chitinase 3-like 1 (sCHI3L1) were measured using single-molecule array assays at baseline. Correlations between biomarker levels, and between biomarkers and age were quantified using Spearman's r. Univariable and multivariable linear models were performed to assess associations between biomarker levels and EDSS change over the different time periods. RESULTS Median (IQR) age of patients was 52.9 (46.4-58.5) years, and 58 (41.1%) were men. Median follow-up time was 9.1 (7.0-12.6) years. Only 8 (5.7%) patients received treatment during follow-up. sNfL and sGFAP levels were moderately correlated (r=0.43) and both weakly correlated with sCHI3L1 levels (r=0.19 and r=0.17, respectively). In multivariable analyses, levels of the three biomarkers were associated with EDSS changes across all time periods. However, when analysis was restricted to non-inflammatory patients according to clinical and radiological parameters (n=64), only sCHI3L1 levels remained associated with future EDSS change. CONCLUSIONS Levels of sNfL, sGFAP and sCHI3L1 are prognostic biomarkers associated with disability progression in patients with PPMS, being CHI3L1 findings less dependent on the inflammatory component associated with disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Fissolo
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pascal Benkert
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jaume Sastre-Garriga
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Mongay-Ochoa
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreu Vilaseca-Jolonch
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Llufriu
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yolanda Blanco
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Harald Hegen
- Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Klaus Berek
- Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Konrad Rejdak
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Luisa M Villar
- Departments of Neurology and Immunology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal deInvestigacion Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Enric Monreal
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, REEM, IRYCIS, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Alvarez-Lafuente
- Environmental Factors in Degenerative Diseases Research Group, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico SanCarlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Onder K Soylu
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ahmed Abdelhak
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroinflammation and Glial Biology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | | - Sergio Martínez-Yélamos
- Neurology Department, Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Hospital Universitari deBellvitge-IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio J Sánchez-López
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana Health Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Biobank, Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana Health Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio García-Merino
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana Health Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucía Gutiérrez
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Jan Lycke
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Igal Rosenstein
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Roberto Furlan
- Clinical Neuroimmunology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita Salute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Nieves Téllez
- Neurology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Lluís Ramió-Torrentà
- Girona Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Neurology Department,Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta and Hospital Santa Caterina.Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation research group (IDIBGI). Department of Medical Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jan D Lünemann
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Munster, Germany
| | - Heinz Wiendl
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Munster, Germany
| | - Sara Eichau
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Michael Khalil
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Montalban
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Comabella
- Servei de Neurologia-Neuroimmunologia, Centre d'Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya (Cemcat), Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron (VHIR), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
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Freedman MS, Gnanapavan S, Booth RA, Calabresi PA, Khalil M, Kuhle J, Lycke J, Olsson T. Guidance for use of neurofilament light chain as a cerebrospinal fluid and blood biomarker in multiple sclerosis management. EBioMedicine 2024; 101:104970. [PMID: 38354532 PMCID: PMC10875256 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.104970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a long-awaited blood biomarker that can provide clinically useful information about prognosis and therapeutic efficacy in multiple sclerosis (MS). There is now substantial evidence for this biomarker to be used alongside magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical measures of disease progression as a decision-making tool for the management of patients with MS. Serum NfL (sNfL) has certain advantages over traditional measures of MS disease progression such as MRI because it is relatively noninvasive, inexpensive, and can be repeated frequently to monitor activity and treatment efficacy. sNfL levels can be monitored regularly in patients with MS to determine change from baseline and predict subclinical disease activity, relapse risk, and the development of gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) lesions. sNfL does not replace MRI, which provides information related to spatial localisation and lesion stage. Laboratory platforms are starting to be made available for clinical application of sNfL in several countries. Further work is needed to resolve issues around comparisons across testing platforms (absolute values) and normalisation (reference ranges) in order to guide interpretation of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Freedman
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Ottawa, and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ontario, Canada.
| | | | - Ronald A Booth
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital & Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter A Calabresi
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael Khalil
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Neurology, Departments of Head, Spine and Neuromedicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Lycke
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tomas Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
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Zhu W, Chen C, Zhang L, Hoyt T, Walker E, Venkatesh S, Zhang F, Qureshi F, Foley JF, Xia Z. Association between serum multi-protein biomarker profile and real-world disability in multiple sclerosis. Brain Commun 2023; 6:fcad300. [PMID: 38192492 PMCID: PMC10773609 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Few studies examined blood biomarkers informative of patient-reported outcome (PRO) of disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). We examined the associations between serum multi-protein biomarker profiles and patient-reported MS disability. In this cross-sectional study (2017-2020), adults with diagnosis of MS (or precursors) from two independent clinic-based cohorts were divided into a training and test set. For predictors, we examined seven clinical factors (age at sample collection, sex, race/ethnicity, disease subtype, disease duration, disease-modifying therapy [DMT], and time interval between sample collection and closest PRO assessment) and 19 serum protein biomarkers potentially associated with MS disease activity endpoints identified from prior studies. We trained machine learning (ML) models (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression [LASSO], Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Machines, stacking ensemble learning, and stacking classification) for predicting Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) score as the primary endpoint and reported model performance using the held-out test set. The study included 431 participants (mean age 49 years, 81% women, 94% non-Hispanic White). For binary PDDS score, combined feature input of routine clinical factors and the 19 proteins consistently outperformed base models (comprising clinical features alone or clinical features plus one single protein at a time) in predicting severe (PDDS ≥ 4) versus mild/moderate (PDDS < 4) disability across multiple machine learning approaches, with LASSO achieving the best area under the curve (AUCPDDS = 0.91) and other metrics. For ordinal PDDS score, LASSO model comprising combined clinical factors and 19 proteins as feature input (R2PDDS = 0.31) again outperformed base models. The two best-performing LASSO models (i.e., binary and ordinal PDDS score) shared six clinical features (age, sex, race/ethnicity, disease subtype, disease duration, DMT efficacy) and nine proteins (cluster of differentiation 6, CUB-domain-containing protein 1, contactin-2, interleukin-12 subunit-beta, neurofilament light chain [NfL], protogenin, serpin family A member 9, tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 13B, versican). By comparison, LASSO models with clinical features plus one single protein at a time as feature input did not select either NfL or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as a final feature. Forcing either NfL or GFAP as a single protein feature into models did not improve performance beyond clinical features alone. Stacking classification model using five functional pathways to represent multiple proteins as meta-features implicated those involved in neuroaxonal integrity as significant contributors to predictive performance. Thus, serum multi-protein biomarker profiles improve the prediction of real-world MS disability status beyond clinical profile alone or clinical profile plus single protein biomarker, reaching clinically actionable performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Zhu
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Chenyi Chen
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lili Zhang
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tammy Hoyt
- Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Elizabeth Walker
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shruthi Venkatesh
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Fujun Zhang
- Octave Bioscience, Inc., Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | | | - John F Foley
- Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Zongqi Xia
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Sen MK, Hossain MJ, Mahns DA, Brew BJ. Validity of serum neurofilament light chain as a prognostic biomarker of disease activity in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol 2023; 270:1908-1930. [PMID: 36520240 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11507-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating and neuroinflammatory disease of the human central nervous system with complex pathoetiology, heterogeneous presentations and an unpredictable course of disease progression. There remains an urgent need to identify and validate a biomarker that can reliably predict the initiation and progression of MS as well as identify patient responses to disease-modifying treatments/therapies (DMTs). Studies exploring biomarkers in MS and other neurodegenerative diseases currently focus mainly on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses, which are invasive and impractical to perform on a repeated basis. Recent studies, replacing CSF with peripheral blood samples, have revealed that the elevation of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) in the clinical stages of MS is, potentially, an ideal prognostic biomarker for predicting disease progression and for possibly guiding treatment decisions. However, there are unresolved factors (the definition of abnormal values of sNfL concentration, the standardisation of measurement and the amount of change in sNfL concentration that is significant) that are preventing its use as a biomarker in routine clinical practice for MS. This updated review critiques these recent findings and highlights areas for focussed work to facilitate the use of sNfL as a prognostic biomarker in MS management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monokesh K Sen
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
- Peter Duncan Neuroscience Research Unit, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Sydney, 2010, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Md Jakir Hossain
- School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - David A Mahns
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Bruce J Brew
- Peter Duncan Neuroscience Research Unit, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Sydney, 2010, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, 2010, Australia.
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Monreal E, Fernández-Velasco JI, García-Sánchez MI, Sainz de la Maza S, Llufriu S, Álvarez-Lafuente R, Casanova B, Comabella M, Ramió-Torrentà L, Martínez-Rodríguez JE, Brieva L, Saiz A, Eichau S, Cabrera-Maqueda JM, Villarrubia N, Espiño M, Pérez-Miralles F, Montalbán X, Tintoré M, Quiroga-Varela A, Domínguez-Mozo MI, Rodríguez-Jorge F, Chico-García JL, Lourido D, Álvarez-Cermeño JC, Masjuan J, Costa-Frossard L, Villar LM. Association of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels at Disease Onset With Disability Worsening in Patients With a First Demyelinating Multiple Sclerosis Event Not Treated With High-Efficacy Drugs. JAMA Neurol 2023; 80:397-403. [PMID: 36848127 PMCID: PMC9972238 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Importance The value of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels for predicting long-term disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) remains controversial. Objective To assess whether high sNfL values are associated with disability worsening in patients who underwent their first demyelinating MS event. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent their first demyelinating event suggestive of MS at Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (development cohort; June 1, 1994, to September 31, 2021, with follow-up until August 31, 2022) and 8 Spanish hospitals (validation cohort; October 1, 1995, to August 4, 2020, with follow-up until August 16, 2022). Exposures Clinical evaluations at least every 6 months. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcomes were 6-month confirmed disability worsening (CDW) and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3. Levels of sNfL were measured in blood samples obtained within 12 months after disease onset using a single molecule array kit. The cutoffs used were sNfL level of 10 pg/mL and a standardized score (z score) of 1.5. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate outcomes. Results Of the 578 patients included in the study, 327 were in the development cohort (median age at sNfL analysis, 34.1 years [IQR, 27.2-42.7 years]; 226 female [69.1%]) and 251 patients were in the validation cohort (median age at sNfL analysis, 33.3 years [IQR, 27.4-41.5 years]; 184 female [73.3%]). The median follow-up was 7.10 years (IQR, 4.18-10.0 years). Levels of sNfL greater than 10 pg/mL were independently associated with higher risk of 6-month CDW and an EDSS of 3 in the development cohort (6-month CDW: hazard ratio [HR], 2.39; 95% CI, 1.39-4.12; P = .002; EDSS of 3: HR, 4.12; 95% CI, 2.18-7.77; P < .001) and the validation cohort (6-month CDW: HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.07-2.42; P = .02; EDSS of 3: HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.23-3.33; P = .005). Highly effective disease-modifying treatments were associated with lower risks of 6-month CDW and an EDSS of 3 in patients with high baseline sNfL values. Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that high sNfL values obtained within the first year of disease were associated with long-term disability worsening in MS, suggesting that sNfL level measurement may help identify optimal candidates for highly effective disease-modifying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enric Monreal
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Fernández-Velasco
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Isabel García-Sánchez
- Nodo Biobanco Hospital Virgen Macarena (Biobanco del Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía), Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Susana Sainz de la Maza
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Llufriu
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberto Álvarez-Lafuente
- Grupo Investigación de Factores Ambientales en Enfermedades Degenerativas, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Bonaventura Casanova
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Group, Fundación para la Investigación La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Comabella
- Servei de Neurologia, Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya, Institut de Recerca Vall d’Hebron, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lluís Ramió-Torrentà
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Department of Neurology, Doctor Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Doctor Josep Trueta University Hospital, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | | | - Luis Brieva
- Hospital Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida, Universitat de Lleida Medicine Department, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Albert Saiz
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Eichau
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Hospital Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José María Cabrera-Maqueda
- Center of Neuroimmunology, Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer and Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noelia Villarrubia
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Espiño
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Pérez-Miralles
- Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Group, Fundación para la Investigación La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Xavier Montalbán
- Servei de Neurologia, Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya, Institut de Recerca Vall d’Hebron, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar Tintoré
- Servei de Neurologia, Centre d’Esclerosi Múltiple de Catalunya, Institut de Recerca Vall d’Hebron, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Quiroga-Varela
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Unit, Department of Neurology, Doctor Josep Trueta University Hospital, Girona, Spain
- Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Doctor Josep Trueta University Hospital, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - María Inmaculada Domínguez-Mozo
- Grupo Investigación de Factores Ambientales en Enfermedades Degenerativas, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Rodríguez-Jorge
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Luís Chico-García
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Lourido
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Álvarez-Cermeño
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Masjuan
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucienne Costa-Frossard
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luisa María Villar
- Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, La Red Española de Esclerosis Múltiple, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
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Long-term prognosis communication preferences in early-stage relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 64:103969. [PMID: 35728432 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis is one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young adults with major consequences for their future lives. Improving communication strategies on prognosis may help patients deal with the disease and adjust their long-term life goals. However, there is limited information on patients' preferences of long-term prognosis (LTP) communication and associated factors. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe patients' preferences and assess the factors associated with LTP communication preferences in early-stage relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. METHODS A multicenter, non-interventional study was conducted. Adult patients with a diagnosis of RRMS, a disease duration from first attack ≤ 3 years, and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 0-5.5 were included. The Prognosis in MS questionnaire was used to assess how much patients want to know about their LTP. Different patient-reported measures were administered to gather information on symptom severity, pain, fatigue, mood/anxiety, quality of life, stigma, illness perception, feeling of hopelessness, self-efficacy, information avoidance and coping strategies. Cognition was assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between LTP information preference and demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as patients' perspectives. RESULTS A total of 189 patients were included (mean age: 36.1 ± 9.4 years, 71.4% female, mean disease duration: 1.2 ± 0.8 years). Median EDSS score was 1.0 (IQR = 0.0-2.0). A proportion of 68.5% (n = 126) of patients had never discussed LTP with their neurologists, whereas 69.2% (n = 126) reported interest in knowing it (73.5% at diagnosis). Bivariate analyses suggested that patients were significantly more likely to have higher LTP information preferences if they were male and had a lower SDMT score. Male gender and a lower SDMT score were predictors of LTP information preferences. CONCLUSIONS Patients with early-stage RRMS want to discuss their LTP shortly after diagnosis. Understanding the factors involved may be useful to design individualized communication strategies.
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