Levels of neurofilaments in cerebrospinal fluid could be important markers for the diagnosis of motor neuron disease, according to new research. Among 455 participants, levels of neurofilaments were higher in those with sporadic or familial motor neuron diseases than in people with mimics of the diseases or in healthy controls. Cut-off levels of 2,200 pg/ml for neurofilament light chain and 560 pg/ml for neurofilament phosphorylated heavy chain provided sensitivities and specificities of >75%, and positive predictive values of 87% and 82%, respectively.
References
Steinacker, P. et al. Neurofilaments in the diagnosis of motoneuron diseases: a prospective study on 455 patients. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 10.1136/jnnp-2015-311387
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Neurofilaments mark motor neuron disease. Nat Rev Neurol 11, 547 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2015.162
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2015.162