Neurofilament and Predicting Disease Activity in Multiple Sclerosis

Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a biomarker in multiple sclerosis (MS) previously shown to correlate with disease and MRI activity. (NEJM JW Neurol Jul 2020 and Neurology 2020; 94:e2457). In this multicenter, international study, investigators sought to create a clinical tool to predict worsening MS and to model treatment effects. They collected 10,133 blood samples from 5390 healthy controls and evaluated 7769 samples from 1313 patients with relapsing forms of MS over a median follow-up of 5.6 years. Evidence of disease activity (EDA)–3 was defined as relapses, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score worsening, or new MRI activity.

Using Z scores derived from sNfL values adjusted for age and body-mass index, patients with sc…