Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain: A Potential Biomarker for Neurological Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fecha
2024-07-11Autor
Azcue González, Naiara
Tijero Merino, Beatriz
Acera Gil, María Ángeles
Pérez Garay, Raquel
Fernández Valle, Tamara
Ayo Mentxakatorre, Naia
Ruiz López, Marta
Gómez Esteban, Juan Carlos
Del Pino Sáez, Rocío
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Biomedicines 12(7) : (2024) // Article ID 1539
Resumen
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disorder characterized by heterogeneous symptoms, which lack specific biomarkers for its diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels as a potential biomarker for ME/CFS and explore associations with cognitive, autonomic, and neuropathic symptoms. Here, 67 ME/CFS patients and 43 healthy controls (HCs) underwent comprehensive assessments, including neuropsychological evaluation, autonomic nervous system (ANS) testing, and plasma NfL level analysis. ME/CFS patients exhibited significantly higher plasma NfL levels compared to HC (F = 4.30, p < 0.05). Correlations were observed between NfL levels and cognitive impairment, particularly in visuospatial perception (r = −0.42; p ≤ 0.001), verbal memory (r = −0.35, p ≤ 0.005), and visual memory (r = −0.26; p < 0.05) in ME/CFS. Additionally, higher NfL levels were associated with worsened autonomic dysfunction in these patients, specifically in parasympathetic function (F = 9.48, p ≤ 0.003). In ME/CFS patients, NfL levels explained up to 17.2% of the results in cognitive tests. Unlike ME/CFS, in HC, NfL levels did not predict cognitive performance. Elevated plasma NfL levels in ME/CFS patients reflect neuroaxonal damage, contributing to cognitive dysfunction and autonomic impairment. These findings support the potential role of NfL as a biomarker for neurological dysfunction in ME/CFS. Further research is warranted to elucidate underlying mechanisms and clinical implications.
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