ACTRIMS 2022 | sNfL as a predictor of 10-year gray matter atrophy and clinical disability in MS

Ingrid Lie, PhD Student, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, discusses a study investigating the relation between serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels over a two-year period in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with clinical disability and gray matter atrophy after 10 years. sNfL levels from patients from the multicenter OFAMS trial who participated in a 10-year follow-up visit were evaluated as well as their association with MRI and clinical measurements. The investigators considered 2 types of sNfL: non-inflammatory or inflammatory, depending on gadolinium-enhancing lesions present or recently present. Results indicate that inflammatory sNfL levels were associated with a lower total gray matter volume, deep gray matter volume, thalamus volume and cortical thickness after 10 years. Higher sNfL levels were also associated with a higher T2 lesion count. While non-inflammatory sNfL levels were not associated with any of those parameters. Therefore, higher sNfL levels during periods of active inflammation can be a way for clinicians to quantify the severity of a relapse and predict the risk of developing brain atrophy and clinical disability in the future. This interview took place at the ACTRIMS Forum 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida.