Serum neurofilament light as a potential marker of illness duration in bipolar disorder

R Queissner; A Buchmann; R Demjaha; C Tafrali; P Benkert; J Kuhle; A Jerkovic; N Dalkner; F Fellendorf; A Birner; M Platzer; A Tmava-Berisha; A Maget; T Stross; M Lenger; A Häussl; M Khalil; E Reininghaus

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.088

Serum neurofilament light as a potential marker of illness duration in bipolar disorder

J Affect Disord. 2024 Apr 1:350:366-371. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.088. Epub 2024 Jan 10.

Authors

R Queissner¹, A Buchmann², R Demjaha², C Tafrali², P Benkert³, J Kuhle³, A Jerkovic⁴, N Dalkner¹, F Fellendorf¹, A Birner¹, M Platzer¹, A Tmava-Berisha¹, A Maget¹, T Stross¹, M Lenger¹, A Häussl¹, M Khalil⁵, E Reininghaus¹

Affiliations

¹ Medical University of Graz, Department for Psychiatry, Austria.
² Medical University of Graz, Department for Neurology, Austria.
³ Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience (RC2NB), Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
⁴ Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, Austria.
⁵ Medical University of Graz, Department for Neurology, Austria. Electronic address: Michael.khalil@medunigraz.at.

PMID: 38215991
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.088

Abstract

Introduction: Investigation on specific biomarkers for diagnostic or prognostic usage in mental diseases and especially bipolar disorder BD seems to be one outstanding field in current research. Serum neurofilament light (sNfL), a marker for neuro-axonal injury, is increased in various acute and chronic neurological disorders, but also neuro-psychiatric conditions, including affective disorders. The aim of our study was to determine a potential relation between a neuron-specific marker like sNfL and different clinical states of BD.

Methods: In the current investigation, 51 patients with BD and 35 HC were included. Mood ratings with the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) and the Young mania rating scale (YMRS) have been included. Illness duration was defined as the period from the time of diagnosis out of self-report and medical records. sNFL was quantified by a commercial ultrasensitive single molecule array (Simoa).

Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the number of manic episodes in the past and sNfL, controlled for age and duration of illness. (R = 0.49, p = 0.03) Depressive episodes were not associated to sNfL values. (R = 0.311, p = n.s.) Patients with >3 years of illness duration showed significantly higher levels of sNfL (M18.59; SD 11.89) than patients with shorter illness duration (M = 12.38, p = 0.03) and HC (M = 11.35, p = 0.02). Patients with <3 years of illness and HC did not differ significantly in sNfL levels.

Discussion: Interestingly, individuals with BD and HC did not differ in sNFL levels in general. Nevertheless, looking at the BD cohort more specifically, we found that individuals with BD with longer duration of illness (>3 years) had higher levels of sNfL than those with an illness duration below 3 years. Our results confirm previous reports on the relation of neuro-axonal injury as evidenced by sNfL and illness specific variables in bipolar disorder. Further studies are needed to clarify if sNfL may predict the disease course and/or indicated response to treatment regimes.

Keywords: Biomarker; Bipolar disorder; Illness course; Longterm; Neurofilament light; Treatment.

MeSH terms

Biomarkers
Bipolar Disorder* / diagnosis
Bipolar Disorder* / psychology
Humans
Intermediate Filaments
Mood Disorders
Prognosis
Psychotic Disorders*

Substances

Biomarkers