Correlation between serum neurofilament light chain and 2-year disease outcome in patients with anti-NMDA encephalitis

Abstract

Introduction: Neurofilament light chains (NfL) are the marker of neuronal injury utilized in many neurological diseases including anti-NMDARE. Nevertheless, the correlation between serum NfL and disease outcome at 2-year follow-up in anti-NMDARE patients remains undetermined. Objectives/Aims: We aimed to explore the correlation between serum NfL and 2-year disease outcomes assessed by mRS score in patients with anti-NMDARE. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted. Serum NfL in anti-NMDARE patients were assessed at 0, 12, and 24-month follow-up. 30 controls with age, gender, BMI, and renal clearance matched were recruited to create a reference value of NfL. Results: 16 anti-NMDARE patients were enrolled. Baseline serum NfL was significantly higher in patients than in controls (median 12.462 pg/mL VS median 4.319 pg/mL (p 0.0029). Serum NfL at initial diagnosis positively correlated with 1-year (R = 0.483, p = 0.025) and 2-year follow-up mRS (R = 0.512, p = 0.0362). A statistically significant correlation was observed between serum NfL at 12 months and follow-up mRS at 1 year (R = 0.454, p = 0.0039) and 2-year (R = 0.553, p = 0.0184). Conclusion: Our study underscores the correlation of serum NfL and the 1-year and 2-year disease outcome (mRS) in patients with anti-NMDARE.