Elevated serum neurofilament light chain protein in patients with essential tremor.
Eur J Neurol
; 31(2): e16143, 2024 Feb.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37975778
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Quantification of neurofilament light chain protein in serum (sNfL) enables the neuro-axonal damage in peripheral blood to be reliably assessed and monitored. There is a long-standing debate whether essential tremor represents a 'benign' tremor syndrome or whether it is linked to neurodegeneration. This study aims to investigate sNfL concentrations in essential tremor compared to healthy controls (cross-sectionally and longitudinally) and to assess whether sNfL is associated with motor and nonmotor markers of disease progression.METHODS:
Data of patients with essential tremor from our prospective registry on movement disorders (PROMOVE) were retrospectively analysed. Age-, sex- and body-mass-index-matched healthy controls were recruited from an ongoing community-dwelling aging cohort. sNfL was quantified by an ultra-sensitive single molecule array (Simoa). All participants underwent detailed clinical examination at baseline and after approximately 5 years of follow-up.RESULTS:
Thirty-seven patients with clinically diagnosed essential tremor were included and 37 controls. The essential tremor group showed significantly higher sNfL levels compared to healthy controls at baseline and follow-up. sNfL levels increased over time in both groups, and the slope of sNfL increase was similar in the essential tremor and healthy control groups. Comparing patients with a disease duration under 5 years to those with a longer disease duration, the former group had a significantly greater increase of sNfL over time, which strongly correlated to worsening of tremor and cognition.CONCLUSION:
Our findings indicate that neurodegeneration, possibly happening at an early disease stage, might play a role in the pathophysiology of essential tremor.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Temblor Esencial
/
Esclerosis Múltiple
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur J Neurol
Asunto de la revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Austria