Neurofilament light chain in blood and features of the multiple sclerosis course in patients with a history of traumatic brain injury

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system with recurrent exacerbations, leading to irreversible disability, the development of which is based on axonal damage and demyelination. It is assumed that one of the candidate biomarkers of axonal damage may be a peptide component of the neuronal cytoskeleton — neurofilament light chain (NFL). Traumatic brain injury (TBI) before the onset of MS is associated with an increased rate of progression of neurological which may be due to increased astrogliosis as a late consequence of TBI. Objective: to evaluate the relationship between the level of NFL in the blood and the RP and exacerbation frequency MS in the presence/absence of TBI before the onset of MS.

Material and methods. Caucasians born and living in the Altai region of Russia with relapsing-remitting MS in remission took part in a cross-sectional observational randomized study: 43 patients without a history of TBI and 43 patients with TBI before the onset of MS (MS duration 7.6 ± 6.6 and 5.9 ± 4.6 years, respectively, p = 0,113). Intracranial injury occurred 14.8 ± 7.8 years before the onset of MS and was documented as a concussion in 76% of patients.

Results. The patient groups did not differ in the frequency of MS exacerbations, while RP was higher in the group with a history of TBI (p = 0.013). There were no intergroup differences in NFL levels (p = 0.613), as well as no correlations between NFL levels and RP (p = 0.499 and p = 0.776 groups with/without TBI, respectively) and the exacerbation frequency. No differences were found between subgroups of patients with different clinical forms of TBI in RP and NFL levels (H = 5,07; p = 0,679).

Conclusion. The results of the study indicate a low probability of a connection between the level of NFL in the blood of patients with MS during the period of remission, both with the possible long-term consequences of a TBI received before the onset of MS, and with the course of MS.

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