Associations of Serum Biomarkers at Multiple Sclerosis Onset and Clinical Outcomes

Although early clinical disease course and imaging features can aid in multiple sclerosis (MS) prognostication and treatment decisions, biomarkers are needed for more refined therapy selection. This retrospective analysis included 725 patients who had serum samples taken within 12 months of MS onset.

Median follow-up was 6.4 years. At baseline, more than 40% of patients had 9 or fewer T2 lesions. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) were high efficacy in 30%, standard efficacy in 75%, and none in 14%; some patients received both high-efficacy and no high-efficacy DMTs at different times. Higher serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels were associated with a significantly increased risk for relapse-associated worsening (RAW; hazard ratio, …