Plasma neurofilament light chain concentration is increased and correlates with the severity of neuropathy in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis

Mahima Kapoor, Martha Foiani, Amanda Heslegrave, Henrik Zetterberg, Michael P. Lunn, Andrea Malaspina, Julian D. Gillmore, Alexander M. Rossor, Mary M. Reilly

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Abstract

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRm) causes a disabling peripheral neuropathy as part of a multisystem disorder. The recent development of highly effective gene silencing therapies has highlighted the need for effective biomarkers of disease activity to guide the decision of when to start and stop treatment. In this study, we measured plasma neurofilament light chain (pNfL) concentration in 73 patients with ATTR and found that pNfL was significantly raised in ATTRm patients with peripheral neuropathy compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, pNFL correlated with disease severity as defined by established clinical outcome measures in patients for whom this information was available. These findings suggest a potential role of pNfL in monitoring disease activity and progression in ATTRm patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)314-319
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the Peripheral Nervous System
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • biomarkers
  • hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis
  • neurofilament light chain
  • neuropathy impairment score
  • peripheral neuropathy

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