Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39856041›Full record

SynthesisTranslational psychiatry2025

Neurofilament light chain levels in neuronal surface antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qi-Lun Lai, Meng-Ting Cai, Er-Chuang Li, Gao-Li Fang, Chun-Hong Shen, Yong-Feng Xu, Song Qiao, Jia-Jia Wang, Qin-Jie Weng, Yin-Xi Zhang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Translational psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Prognostic Determinants of Presentation and Outcome in Anti-IgLON5 Disease.Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2026
    Observational
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
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

10 authors.

Qi-Lun LaiDepartment of Neurology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3536-6921
Meng-Ting CaiDepartment of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1835-5734
Er-Chuang LiDepartment of Neurology, Taikang Ningbo Hospital, Ningbo, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8159-3546
Gao-Li FangDepartment of Neurology, Zhejiang Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-7847-4700
Chun-Hong ShenDepartment of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-0240-8673
Yong-Feng XuDepartment of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5820-6429
Song QiaoDepartment of Neurology, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8590-0926
Jia-Jia WangNanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, China. wjiajia@zju.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0897-8033
Qin-Jie WengNanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou, China. wengqinjie@zju.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8026-0109
Yin-Xi ZhangDepartment of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. zyx-neurology@zju.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4462-171X

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82073857National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82222069Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation) LQ23H090004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeuronal surface antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis (NSAE) is a group of neuro-inflammatory disorders that is mediated by autoantibodies against the cell-surface and synaptic antigens. Studies have explored the role of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in NSAE and provided inconsistent data. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the NfL levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with NSAE.

methodsThe National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, PubMed), Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies reporting NfL levels in patients with NSAE. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool results across studies.

resultsThirteen studies were included in the final systematic review and meta-analysis. The serum NfL levels were significantly higher in patients with NSAE compared to unaffected controls (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.909, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.536-1.282). Similarly, the CSF NfL levels were elevated in patients with NSAE (SMD = 0.897, 95% CI: 0.508-1.286). The serum and CSF NfL levels were not significantly correlated with disease severity, prognosis, and abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and CSF.

conclusionsNfL levels in the serum and CSF were higher in patients with NSAE compared to unaffected controls. However, the NfL levels were not shown to be significantly associated with clinical or paraclinical features.

Indexed as

AutoantibodiesEncephalitisHashimoto DiseaseNeurofilament ProteinsBiomarkersHumansAutoantibodiesBiomarkersneurofilament protein LNeurofilament Proteins

Identifiers

PMID39856041
PMCPMC11760525

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.