Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29737427›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2018

Serum neurofilament light is increased in multiple system atrophy of cerebellar type and in repeat-expansion spinocerebellar ataxias: a pilot study.

Carlo Wilke, Friedemann Bender, Stefanie N Hayer, Kathrin Brockmann, Ludger Schöls, Jens Kuhle, Matthis Synofzik

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
38citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
4.2field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

38 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 70 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Carlo WilkeDepartment of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
Friedemann BenderDepartment of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
Stefanie N HayerDepartment of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
Kathrin BrockmannDepartment of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
Ludger SchölsDepartment of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
Jens KuhleNeurologic Clinic and Policlinic, Departments of Medicine, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Matthis SynofzikDepartment of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany. matthis.synofzik@uni-tuebingen.de.
University of Tübingen · DEGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases · DEHertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research · DEUniversity Hospital of Basel · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Blood biomarkers in degenerative ataxias are still largely missing. Here, we aimed to provide piloting proof-of-concept that serum Neurofilament light (NfL) could offer a promising peripheral blood biomarker in degenerative ataxias. Specifically, as a marker of neuronal damage, NfL might (1) help to differentiate multiple system atrophy of cerebellar type (MSA-C) from sporadic adult-onset ataxia (SAOA), and (2) show increases in repeat-expansion spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) which might be amenable to treatment in the future. To explore these two hypotheses, we measured serum NfL levels by single-molecule array (Simoa) technique in 115 subjects, comprising patients with MSA-C (n = 25), SAOA (n = 25), the most frequent repeat-expansion SCAs (SCA 1, 2, 3 and 6) (n = 20), and age-matched controls (n = 45). Compared to controls, NfL was significantly increased in MSA-C, with levels significantly higher than in SAOA (AUC = 0.74 (0.59-0.89), mean and 95% confidence interval, p = .004). NfL was also significantly increased in SCA patients as compared to controls (AUC = 0.91 (0.81-1.00), p < .001), including NfL increases in SCA1 and SCA3. These findings provide first proof-of-concept that NfL might provide a promising peripheral biomarker in degenerative ataxias, e.g. supporting the differentiation of MSA-C from SAOA, and indicating neuronal damage in repeat-expansion SCAs.

Indexed as

Multiple System AtrophyAdultAgedAtaxinsCase-Control StudiesCerebellumFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeurofilament ProteinsPilot ProjectsROC CurveTrinucleotide Repeat ExpansionAtaxinsneurofilament protein LNeurofilament ProteinsBiomarkerMultiple system atrophy of cerebellar type (MSA-C)Neurofilament light chain (NfL)SerumSpinocerebellar ataxia (SCA)Sporadic adult-onset ataxia (SAOA)

Identifiers

PMID29737427
OpenAlexW2801410091

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.