Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39313638›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2024

In multiple sclerosis patients a single serum neurofilament light chain (sNFL) dosage is strongly associated with 12 months outcome: data from a real-life clinical setting.

Simona Malucchi, Cecilia Irene Bava, Paola Valentino, Serena Martire, Marianna Lo Re, Antonio Bertolotto, Alessia Di Sapio

Erratum issuedAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. 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. Prognostic value of neurofilament light chain protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein in multiple sclerosis subtypes and disease activity patterns: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Simona MalucchiDepartment of Neurology and CRESM, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Italy. simona.malucchi@gmail.com.
Cecilia Irene BavaNICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy.
Paola ValentinoNICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy.
Serena MartireNICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy.
Marianna Lo ReDepartment of Neurology and CRESM, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Italy.
Antonio BertolottoNICO-Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Orbassano, Italy.
Alessia Di SapioDepartment of Neurology and CRESM, University Hospital San Luigi Gonzaga, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043, Orbassano, Italy.

Funding

Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla grant number 2020/S/5Ministero della Salute grant number RF-2013-02357497
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeurofilament light chain (NFL) is a neuroaxonal cytoskeletal protein released into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and eventually into blood upon neuronal injury. Its detection in serum (sNFL) makes it a promising marker in multiple sclerosis (MS).

objectiveTo evaluate the usefulness of a single dosage of sNFL in clinical practice.

methods626 consecutive relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients treated with disease modifying treatments (DMTs) for at least 12 months underwent a single sNFL dosage. 553 patients had NEDA-3 status (no relapses, no disability progression, no new/enlarging or contrast-enhancing lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging) in the 12 months prior blood sampling. sNFL levels were measured by single molecule array (Simoa™). Association between sNFL levels and NEDA-3 status at 12, 24, and 36 months was evaluated with logistic regression models adjusted for sex, EDSS, disease duration, and type of DMTs.

results469 out of the 553 NEDA-3 patients had normal sNFL level, whereas 42 had elevated level. The two groups did not differ regarding baseline characteristics. A very strong association between elevated sNFL levels and loss of NEDA-3 status within 12 months was found, with an odds ratio [OR] of 10.74 (95% CI 4.34-26.57); 15 and 10 patients with normal and elevated sNFL, respectively lost NEDA-3 (p < 0.001). The effect was not detected during the subsequent 13-24 and 25-36 months.

conclusionsA single elevated sNFL is strongly associated with NEDA-3 loss within 1 year. Elevated sNFL in apparently stable patients suggests an ongoing disease activity below the detection threshold of standard parameters.

Indexed as

BiomarkersMultiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingNeurofilament ProteinsAdultDisability EvaluationDisease ProgressionFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedMultiple SclerosisBiomarkersneurofilament protein LNeurofilament ProteinsFluid biomarkersNEDA-3Patients’ monitoringSNFL

Identifiers

PMID39313638

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.