Wang Rui, Wang Xiaofei, Sun Dongren, Shi Ziyan, Kong Lingyao, Du Qin, Zhang Ying, Chen Hongxi, Zhang Nana, Zhou Hongyu
Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
General Practice Ward/International Medical Center Ward, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
J Neurol. 2025 Jul 21;272(8):521. doi: 10.1007/s00415-025-13249-z.
Serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) and neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels are potential biomarkers for disease activity and disability in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD), respectively; however, their clinical applications in NMOSD remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between sGFAP and sNfL levels and the activity, severity of attacks, disability in patients with NMOSD.
SGFAP and sNfL levels were measured in healthy controls (HCs) (n = 20) and patients with NMOSD (n = 86; 50 during attack and 50 in remission) using ultrasensitive single-molecule array assays. The relationships between the two biomarkers and different stages of NMOSD, the severe attacks, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, and the prognosis were analyzed.
SNfL and sGFAP levels were significantly higher in patients with NMOSD than in HCs in the acute and remission phases (p < 0.05). The sGFAP level was higher in the acute phase than in the remission phase (P < 0.001). SNfL and sGFAP levels were higher in the severe myelitis attack group than in the severe optic neuritis attack group (p < 0.05). The EDSS ≥ 6 NMOSD group had significantly higher sNfL and sGFAP levels than the EDSS < 6 group (p < 0.05). SNfL and sGFAP levels in acute and remission stages increased with increasing EDSS scores (p < 0.05). SGFAP could discriminate patients with NMOSD with relapse from those under remission (p < 0.001).
sNfL and sGFAP may serve as biomarkers for NMOSD severity, activity, and motor disability.
血清胶质纤维酸性蛋白（sGFAP）和神经丝轻链（sNfL）水平分别是视神经脊髓炎谱系障碍（NMOSD）疾病活动度和残疾程度的潜在生物标志物；然而，它们在NMOSD中的临床应用仍不明确。因此，本研究旨在探讨sGFAP和sNfL水平与NMOSD患者的疾病活动度、发作严重程度及残疾程度之间的相关性。
采用超灵敏单分子阵列分析方法，对健康对照者（HCs，n = 20）和NMOSD患者（n = 86；发作期50例，缓解期50例）的sGFAP和sNfL水平进行检测。分析这两种生物标志物与NMOSD不同阶段、严重发作、扩展残疾状态量表（EDSS）评分及预后之间的关系。
在急性期和缓解期，NMOSD患者的sNfL和sGFAP水平显著高于HCs（p < 0.05）。急性期的sGFAP水平高于缓解期（P < 0.001）。严重脊髓炎发作组的sNfL和sGFAP水平高于严重视神经炎发作组（p < 0.05）。EDSS≥6的NMOSD组的sNfL和sGFAP水平显著高于EDSS < 6的组（p < 0.05）。急性期和缓解期的sNfL和sGFAP水平随EDSS评分升高而增加（p < 0.05）。SGFAP可区分复发的NMOSD患者和缓解期患者（p < 0.001）。
sNfL和sGFAP可能作为NMOSD严重程度、活动度及运动残疾的生物标志物。
