Multiple sclerosis: neurofilament light chain antibodies are correlated to cerebral atrophy

Objective: To evaluate markers of axonal damage in CSF and serum of patients with different subtypes of MS in relation to measures of disease progression on MRI. Methods: In 51 patients with MS (21 relapsing-remitting, 20 secondary progressive, 10 primary progressive), levels of heavy and light neurofilaments (NfH and NfL) and antibodies to neurofilaments (anti-NfL and -NfH) as well as the total immunoglobulin G (IgG) were analyzed. MRI analysis included T2 hyperintense, T1 hypointense, and gadolinium enhancing lesions and markers of cerebral atrophy (ventricular and parenchymal fractions). Results: For the total group, correlations were found between the anti-NfL index and the parenchymal fraction (PF) (r = -0.51, p <0.001), T2 lesion load (r = 0.41, p <0.05), ventricular fraction (r = 0.37, p <0.05), and T1 lesion load (r = 0.37, p <0.05). For the anti-NfH index, a correlation was found with the PF (r = -0.39, p <0.05). No correlations were found between the IgG index and MRI measures. Conclusions: Intrathecal production of anti-NfL antibodies may serve as a marker of tissue damage, particularly axonal loss, in MS.