Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Patients With Presymptomatic Multiple Sclerosis

摘要

Question How long is the prodromal phase of multiple sclerosis? Findings In this nested case-control study, we found that serum levels of neurofilament light chain were elevated in case patients with multiple sclerosis compared with matched control individuals 6 years before the clinical onset. This difference between cases and controls increased with decreasing time to the case clinical onset, and clinical onset was associated with a marked increase in neurofilament light chain levels. Meaning Multiple sclerosis may have a prodromal phase lasting several years, and neuroaxonal damage may occur already during this phase.