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Sponsor: Assiut University

Conditions: Role of Neurofilment in Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Countries: Egypt

Neurofilament protein detected in the serum appears to be a good marker for the extent of active neurodegeneration. Chitinase may also be a good marker reflecting the degree of astrocyte activation, or damage in active lesions (Paul et al, 2018).These markers have some clinical value for diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity. NfL can be objectively measured and quantified, it is highly sensitive to neurodegenerative processes and its concentration changes as the disease worsens or improves (Disanto et al., 2017). Numerous studies have shown that NfL levels increase during MS relapses and correlate with MRI lesion development (Disanto et al., 2016, 2017; Novakova et al., 2017), disease activity, (Thebault et al., 2020). Cognitive impairment is common in the early stages of multiple sclerosis, mainly affecting attention, working memory, and information processing speed, but also memory, inhibition, and conceptualisation. Poor performance is common but remains subtle and does not significantly affect the quality of life at this stage. However, many studies shows that these deficits reflect the destruction both within and outside lesions, and that they may therefore be considered as a severity marker in the early stages of multiple sclerosis. (Lengenfelder et al., 2005). The aim of the work is to detect the role of serum NFL and chitinase as biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients, and to estimate the incidence of cognitive impairment and their relationship with the NFL in newly diagnosed MS patients.