Abstract Details

Title Is There an Association Between Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels and Conduction Slowing in Type 2 Diabetic Distal Symmetrical Polyneuropathy?

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) P3 - Poster Session 3 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 4-003

Background The neurofilament light chain (NEFL) is a blood biomarker of neuroaxonal damage in several neurodegenerative diseases and is a potential biomarker for type 2 diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSP).

Objective

To investigate the association between serum NEFL levels and conduction slowing in diabetic DSP.

Design/Methods Serum concentration of NEFL was measured in 8 patients with diabetic DSP with motor conduction slowing (MCVS) and was compared to 10 patients with diabetic DSP without motor conduction slowing (MCVWS) and 7 normal controls.

Results

The Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale (ONLS) , Rasch-Built Overall Disability Scale (R-ODS), and Total Neuropathy Score were 4.16 ± 2.19, 36.28 ± 11.64, and 16.67 ± 8.35 respectively in MCVS group compared to 3.70 ± 1.55, 16.6 ± 5.8, and 36.00 ± 6.44 in MCVWS group respectively. The level of HBA1C was significantly higher in the MCVS group (7.90 ± 2.04%) compared to the MCVWS group (5.51 ± 0.82%). Serum concentration of NEFL was significantly increased in the MCVS group (286.64 ± 98.50 pg/ml) compared to MCVWS (248.90 ± 142.91, P<0.05) and normal control group (107.87 ± 76.14 pg/ml, P<0.01).

Conclusions

Our preliminary data demonstrated that conduction slowing in diabetic DSP is associated with poor diabetic control and increased serum NEFL suggestive of ongoing axonal loss. Work in progress to investigate if there is a correlation between NEFL and the severity of conduction slowing (suggestive of primary demyelination with secondary axonal loss), as well as with other biomarkers of neuroinflammation.

Authors/Disclosures
Joseph Wardell PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Kelly Saverino (Rutgers University)	Miss Saverino has nothing to disclose.
Belinda Philip, MBBS (Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey)	Dr. Philip has nothing to disclose.
Kazim Jaffry	Mr. Jaffry has nothing to disclose.
Ankit Pahwa	Ankit Pahwa has nothing to disclose.
Daniel L. Menkes, MD, FAAN (Neuroscience Center)	An immediate family member of Dr. Menkes has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of NIH. An immediate family member of Dr. Menkes has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for CMTE. An immediate family member of Dr. Menkes has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for NIH. Dr. Menkes has received personal compensation in the range of $100,000-$499,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Self Employed. An immediate family member of Dr. Menkes has received research support from Helmsley Foundation . An immediate family member of Dr. Menkes has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.
Zhao Zhong Chong	No disclosure on file
Nizar Souayah, MD, FAAN (NJMS)	Dr. Souayah has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.