Cerebrospinal fluid level of neurofilament light chain is associated with increased disease activity in neuro-Behcet's disease


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Karaaslan Z., Şanlı E., Timirci-Kahraman Ö., Yılmaz V., Akbayır E., Koral G., ...More

TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, vol.52, no.4, pp.1266-1273, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 52 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.55730/1300-0144.5432
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.1266-1273
  • Keywords: Neurofilament light, hoxB3, ykl-40, neuro-Behcet, prognosis, SERUM YKL-40, HOXB3
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background/aim: Clinical exacerbations characterized with neurological symptoms are observed in around 10% of Behcet's disease (BD) patients and may culminate in severe disability. Although certain immunological factors have been associated with disease activity in neuro-Behcet's disease (NBD), biomarkers for monitoring the clinical outcome of NBD have not been properly investigated. Materials and methods: Levels of neurofilament light chain (NFL), homeobox protein Hox-B3 (HoxB3), and YKL-40 were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 23 parenchymal (n = 16) and nonparenchymal (n = 7) NBD patients obtained during NBD attacks by ELISA. Parameters of clinical progression and outcome were assessed for an average follow-up period of 3.9 +/- 1.3 years. Results: Parenchymal NBD patients showed elevated CSF levels of NFL, HoxB3, and YKL-40 as compared to nonparenchymal patients. NBD patients showing an increase in modified Rankin score (mRS) values during follow-up had significantly higher CSF NFL levels. Patients with relatively lower CSF NFL levels (<1000 ng/L) did not develop attacks or cognitive impairment interfering with daily life activities during follow-up. NFL levels correlated with disease duration and mRS at the last follow-up visit, while HoxB3 levels correlated with a number of attacks during follow-up. Conclusion: CSF level of NFL appears to predict the prospective somatic and cognitive disability in NBD patients and may thus be potentially used as a biomarker of clinical outcome in this disease.