Early life serum neurofilament dynamics predict neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants

Journal article

BackgroundPhosphorylated neurofilament heavy, a marker of neuroaxonal damage, is increased in horses with equine neuroaxonal dystrophy. However, the temporal dynamics of this biomarker during the post-natal risk period are not understood.ObjectiveTo measure serum and cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations in juvenile foals across the post-natal window of susceptibility for equine neuroaxonal dystrophy.Study designCase-control in vivo experimental study.MethodsConcentrations of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy were measured using frozen serum and cerebrospinal fluid collected from 13 foals raised in a vitamin E deficient environment from 1 to 6 months of age. Four of these foals were produced by equine neuroaxonal dystrophy-affected dams, developed clinical signs consistent with equine neuroaxonal dystrophy and had a diagnosis confirmed by histopathology. The remaining nine foals, produced by healthy mares, were vitamin E depleted and remained clinically healthy. An additional cohort of foals, produced by healthy mares, were supplemented with vitamin E (α-tocopherol; α-TOH) from birth and sampled similarly.ResultsSerum α-TOH concentrations were significantly higher in vitamin E supplemented healthy foals. Serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations did not differ significantly between groups at any time point. Cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations increased with age in healthy vitamin E depleted foals (p < 0.001); an effect that was not observed in healthy vitamin E supplemented foals.Main limitationsA genetically susceptible cohort supplemented with vitamin E was not available for comparison.ConclusionWe demonstrate that vitamin E depletion may elevate cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy in otherwise healthy juvenile foals by 6 months of age. We highlight an important cofactor to consider when interpreting cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated neurofilament heavy concentrations in juvenile horses

Authors: Goeral, K; Hauck, A; Atkinson, A; Wagner, MB; Pimpel, B

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer
• Journal: Journal of Neurology
• Volume: 268
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 2570-2577
• Publication date: 2021-02-10
• DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10429-5
• EISSN: 1432-1459
• ISSN: 0340-5354
• Language: English
• Keywords: Logistic regression; Bayley Scales of Infant Development; Hydrocephalus; Interquartile range; Medicine; Prospective cohort study; Internal medicine; Pregnancy; Surgery; Cerebrospinal fluid; Gestational age; Pediatrics; Intraventricular hemorrhage