Open AccessAxonal injury in asymptomatic individuals preceding onset of multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Jons Daniel,
Zetterberg Henrik,
Biström Martin,
AlonsoMagdalena Lucia,
Gunnarsson Martin,
Vrethem Magnus,
Blennow Kaj,
Nilsson Staffan,
Sundström Peter,
Andersen Oluf
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.51568
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple sclerosis , asymptomatic , pathogenesis , biomarker , neurofilament , gastroenterology , pathology , immunology , immunohistochemistry , biochemistry , chemistry
Axonal loss is the main cause of irreversible disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Serum neurofilament light (sNfL) is a biomarker of axonal disintegration. In this nested case–control study, blood samples from 519 presymptomatic persons (age range 4–39 years) who later received an MS diagnosis showed higher sNfL concentrations than 519 matched controls ( p < 0.0001), noticeable at least 10 years before clinical MS onset. Mean values for pre‐MS and control groups were 9.6 pg/mL versus 7.4 pg/mL 0–5 years before onset, and 6.4 pg/mL versus 5.8 pg/mL 5–10 years before onset. These results support that axonal injury occurs early in MS pathogenesis.