NEUROFILAMENT PROTEIN IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID - A POTENTIAL MARKER OF ACTIVITY IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

The neurofilament protein is a major structural protein of neurons and a marker for axonal damage. The concentrations of the light subunit o f the neurofilament triplet protein (NFL) in CSF were significantly in creased in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis compar ed with healthy controls (p<0.001). Seventy eight per cent of patients with multiple sclerosis showed increased NFL concentrations. Signific ant correlations between the NFL concentration in CSF and clinical ind ices were discerned for disability, exacerbation rate, and time from t he start of the previous exacerbation to the time of the lumbar punctu re. The results suggest that axonal damage occurs during relapsing-rem itting multiple sclerosis and that the damage contributes to disabilit y and the appearance of clinical exacerbations. The concentration of N FL in CSF is a potential marker of disease activity in multiple sclero sis and might be useful in future clinical trials of multiple sclerosi s.