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Neurological Sciences

Open Access 03-05-2024 | Small Fiber Neuropathy | Original Article

Serum neurofilament light chain levels correlate with small fiber related parameters in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN)

Authors: Eleonora Galosi, Rocco Costanzo, Francesca Forcina, Stefania Morino, Giovanni Antonini, Marco Salvetti, Antonio Lauletta, Marco Luigetti, Angela Romano, Guido Primiano, Valeria Guglielmino, Laura Fionda, Matteo Garibaldi, Nicoletta Esposito, Pietro Falco, Giuseppe di Pietro, Andrea Truini, Luca Leonardi

Published in: Neurological Sciences

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Abstract

Background

Recent evidence suggests that both serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels and small fiber related diagnostic variables may be valuable disease biomarkers of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN).
Our study aimed to explore the relations between sNfL and small fiber related skin biopsy and quantitative sensory testing (QST) parameters in a cohort of ATTRv-PN patients and pre-symptomatic carriers.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from 13 ATTRv patients and 21 pre-symptomatic carriers who underwent sNfL dosage, skin biopsy, and QST, and analyzed correlations between sNFL, intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD), and cold (CDT) and warm detection thresholds (WDT).

Results

Both sNfL and small fiber related parameters significantly differed between carriers and patients (sNfL: p < 0.0001; IENFD: p = 0.0008; CDT, WDT: < 0.0001). sNFL levels were normal in all carriers, altered in 85% of patients, negatively correlated with distal IENFD (r = -0.47, p = 0.005), and significantly correlated with CDT (r = -0.68; p < 0.0001) and WDT (r = 0.57; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our study showed that sNfL reliably discriminates symptomatic ATTRv-PN patients from pre-symptomatic carriers, and found significant relations between sNfL, skin biopsy, and QST small fiber related parameters, suggesting that sNfL might be a valuable biomarker of peripheral nerve involvement in ATTRv-PN and a supportive criterion for symptomatic disease transition.
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Metadata
Title
Serum neurofilament light chain levels correlate with small fiber related parameters in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN)
Authors
Eleonora Galosi
Rocco Costanzo
Francesca Forcina
Stefania Morino
Giovanni Antonini
Marco Salvetti
Antonio Lauletta
Marco Luigetti
Angela Romano
Guido Primiano
Valeria Guglielmino
Laura Fionda
Matteo Garibaldi
Nicoletta Esposito
Pietro Falco
Giuseppe di Pietro
Andrea Truini
Luca Leonardi
Publication date
03-05-2024
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Neurological Sciences
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-024-07562-0