Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35925940›Full record

Observational studyBrain and behavior2022

The prognostic significance of early blood neurofilament light chain concentration and magnetic resonance imaging variables in relapse-onset multiple sclerosis.

Thomas Williams, Amanda Heslegrave, Henrik Zetterberg, Katherine A Miszkiel, Frederik Barkhof, Olga Ciccarelli, Wallace J Brownlee, Jeremy Chataway

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Brain and behavior, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Observational
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

8 authors.

Thomas WilliamsQueen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8197-0177
Amanda HeslegraveDepartment of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Henrik ZetterbergDepartment of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
Katherine A MiszkielQueen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Frederik BarkhofQueen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Olga CiccarelliQueen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Wallace J BrownleeQueen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Jeremy ChatawayQueen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK.

Funding

Department of Health
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImproved prognostication remains vital in multiple sclerosis to inform personalized treatment approaches. Blood neurofilament light (bNfL) is a promising prognostic biomarker, but to what extent it provides additional information, independent of established MRI metrics, is yet to be established.

methodsWe obtained all available bNfL data for 133 patients from a longitudinal observational cohort study. Patients were dichotomized into good or poor outcome groups based upon clinical and cognitive assessments performed 15 years after a clinically isolated syndrome. We performed longitudinal modeling of early NfL and MRI variables to examine differences between outcome groups.

resultsThe bNfL dataset was incomplete, with one to three (mean 1.5) samples available per participant. Within 3 months of onset, bNfL was similar between groups. The bNfL concentration subsequently decreased in those with a good outcome, and remained persistently elevated in those with a poor outcome. By year 5, NfL in the poor outcome group was approximately double that of those with a good outcome (14.58 [10.40-18.77] vs. 7.71 [6.39-9.04] pg/ml, respectively). Differences were reduced after adjustment for longitudinal changes in T2LV, but trends persisted for a greater rate of increase in NfL in those with a poor outcome, independent of T2LV.

conclusionsThis analysis requires replication in cohorts with more complete bNfL datasets, but suggests that persistently elevated blood NfL may be more common in patients with a poor long-term outcome. Persistent elevation of blood NfL may provide additional prognostic information not wholly accounted for by standard monitoring techniques.

Indexed as

Multiple SclerosisBiomarkersChronic DiseaseHumansIntermediate FilamentsMagnetic Resonance ImagingPrognosisRecurrenceBiomarkersmagnetic resonance imagingmultiple sclerosisneurofilament light chainprognosis

Identifiers

PMID35925940
PMCPMC9480937

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Registered trials

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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.