Observational studyJournal of neurology2024
Baseline serum neurofilament light chain levels differentiate aggressive from benign forms of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a 20-year follow-up cohort.
Observational study in Journal of neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Crossroads of Neuroinflammation and Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.Cells · 2026Pooled it
- Clinical applications and diagnostic research of GFAP and NfL in MS and NMOSD: a meta-analysis.BMC immunology · 2025Pooled it
- The Role of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein as a Biomarker in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Pooled it
- Article
- Serum miRNA-155 and TREM2 as Non-Invasive Biomarkers for Monitoring Neuroinflammation and Disease Activity in Multiple Sclerosis.Molecular neurobiology · 2026Review
- Biomarkers for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated disease: recent advances and future.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Cerebrospinal fluid levels of chitinase 3-like 1 and interleukin-6 can predict response to platform therapies in relapsing multiple sclerosis.Journal of neurology · 2025Article
- Exploring the Clinical Utility of Neurofilament Light Chain Assays in Multiple Sclerosis Management.Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2025Review
- Profiling Blood-Based Neural Biomarkers and Cytokines in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Model of Multiple Sclerosis Using Single-Molecule Array Technology.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- The role of Neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in MS and AQP4-NMOSD: Advancing clinical applications.eNeurologicalSci · 2025Review
- Baseline neurofilament light chain and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels predict development of aggressive multiple sclerosis.Turkish journal of medical sciences · 2025Article
- Article
- Global research trends on the links between NfL and neurological disorders: A bibliometric analysis and review.Heliyon · 2024Article
- Clinical trajectories of patients with multiple sclerosis from onset and their relationship with serum neurofilament light chain levels.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Article
- Value contribution of blood-based neurofilament light chain as a biomarker in multiple sclerosis using multi-criteria decision analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesSerum biomarkers are emerging as useful prognostic tools for multiple sclerosis (MS); however, long-term studies are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of the serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), total tau, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) measured close to the time of MS onset.
methodsIn this retrospective, exploratory, observational, case and controls study, patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) with available baseline serum samples and prospectively follow-up in our MS unit for a long time were selected based on their clinical evolution to form two groups: (1) a benign RRMS (bRRMS) group, defined as patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of ≤ 3 at ≥ 10 years of follow-up; (2) an aggressive RRMS (aRRMS) group, defined as patients with an EDSS score of ≥ 6 at ≤ 15 years of follow-up. An age-matched healthy control (HC) group was selected. NfL, total tau, and GFAP serum levels were quantified using a single-molecule array (SIMOA), and CHI3L1 was quantified using ELISA.
resultsThirty-one patients with bRRMS, 19 with aRRMS, and 10 HC were included. The median follow-up time from sample collection was 17.74 years (interquartile range, 14.60-20.37). Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed significantly higher NfL and GFAP levels in the aRRMS group than in the bRRMS group. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified serum NfL level as the most efficient marker for distinguishing aRRMS from bRRMS. DISCUSSION: This proof-of-concept study comparing benign and aggressive RRMS groups reinforces the potential role of baseline NfL serum levels as a promising long-term disability prognostic marker. In contrast, serum GFAP, total tau, and CHI3L1 levels demonstrated a lower or no ability to differentiate between the long-term outcomes of RRMS.
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