Blood Levels Of NfL Are Influenced By Certain Factors, Research Suggests

Multiple Sclerosis News Today (12/12, Shapiro) says, “Blood levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) – a biomarker of nerve cell damage used in multiple sclerosis (MS) research – are influenced by factors such as age, body mass index, and storage conditions of the blood samples, according to a recent report.” Factors like these “may need to be considered and adjusted for in studies where NfL is an outcome measure, according to researchers.” Investigators found that “a method of adjusting NfL values for age appeared to be effective for distinguishing healthy people from” patients with MS, and patients with MS and “active inflammatory brain lesions from those without them.” The findings were published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.