A review finds blood neurofilament light chain may help measure treatment effects in ALS trials
Original source
Use of blood-based neurofilament light chain as an endpoint in clinical trials of neurodegenerative conditions: a scoping review. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Study type
- Systematic review
- Studied in
- Human
Related topics
A scoping review examined blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) as an endpoint in clinical trials of neurodegenerative diseases. It included 49 studies, including eight in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Changes in NfL often matched changes in clinical outcomes, but not consistently.
Why this matters
Blood NfL could eventually help researchers assess disease activity and treatment response in ALS trials. It is not yet a routinely established clinical endpoint, and the review says further validation is needed before wider use.
Limitations and context
This was a scoping review of studies published from 2013 to 2024, not a new treatment trial. Only eight included studies involved ALS, and the review found that NfL and clinical outcomes sometimes changed differently. Interpretation may depend on the disease and the treatment mechanism.