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International research collaboration defines age-specific reference range for blood neurofilament light chain in pediatric health
The Blood Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) is an innovative biomarker that specifically indicates neuroaxonal health. However, its clinical application has been constrained due to the lack of established reference ranges for children and adolescents. Accurate monitoring of neuroaxonal injury in neurologic and systemic diseases is of pivotal importance at population and individual patient levels. In the paediatric population, tools capturing neuroaxonal injury with high specificity would substantially facilitate early and accurate detection of conditions associated with short- and long-term neurological disabilities with considerable socioeconomic impact. This may as well accelerate clinical trials evaluating the expanding library of targeted causal and disease-modifying treatments.
The Study
Led by Sven Wellmann at the University Hospital of Regensburg and Jens Kuhle at the University Hospital of Basel, an international team comprising top-tier institutes from Switzerland, Germany, and the United States conducted comprehensive analyses of NfL concentrations in more than 2,500 healthy children and adolescents. This ground-breaking study has been published in the esteemed journal, The Lancet Neurology.
The study authored by A Abdelhak, F Petermeier and P Benkert et al., provides essential insights for the correct interpretation of NfL concentrations in the pediatric population, emphasizing its unique, age-related dynamics.
This landmark research significantly enhances the precision of pediatric health assessments by the ability to understand and monitor children's neuroaxonal health, thereby contributing to the evolution of global children's healthcare. The established reference dataset provides healthcare providers with a definitive standard for comparison, enabling more accurate interpretation of NfL levels in children's blood tests.
In turn, this facilitates more precise diagnoses, optimizes monitoring of disease progression, and enables a more individualized approach to treatment.
Prof. Dr. med. Sven Wellmann
Chair of Neonatology
University of Regensburg
Barmherzige Brüder Hospital, St. Hedwig Clinic
Mail: sven.wellmann@ukr.de OR sven.wellmann@barmherzige-regensburg.de
Abdelhak A, Petermeier F, Benkert P, et al. Serum neurofilament light chain reference database for individual application in paediatric care: a retrospective modelling and validation study. Lancet Neurol 2023; published online July 28.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00210-7
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