Patients' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Testing in Early-stage Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Inés González-Suárez1, Elena Garcia-Arcelay2, Jacobo Caruncho3, Antonio Candeliere-Merlicco4, Aida Orviz-García5, Jesús Martín-Martínez6, Raquel Piñar Morales7, Elena Álvarez-Rodríguez8, Eva Pacheco9, Laura Borrega Canelo10, Ignacio Casanova11, Ana Belen Caminero Rodriguez12, Jose Luis Sanchez Menoyo13, Montserrat Gomez Gutierrez14, Olga Carmona15, Carmen Calles16, Miguel Angel Hernandez Perez17, Pablo López-Muñoz18, Jorge Maurino2, Angel Perez-Sempere19
1Department of Neurology, Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, 2Roche, 3AVEMPO (Asociación Viguesa de Esclerosis Múltiple)., 4Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Rafael Méndez, 5Department of Neurology, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, 6Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, 7Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Granada, 8Department of Neurology, Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, 9Department of Neurology, Hospital Juan Ramón Jiménez, 10Department of NeurologyHospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, 11Department of Neurology, Hospital de Torrejón, 12Department of Neurology, C/ Fuentes Claras #1, 13Department of Neurology, Neurologia - Hospital Galdakao-Usansolo, 14Department of Neurology, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, 15Department of Neurology, Hospital de Figueres, 16Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 17Department of Neurology, Hospital Nuestra Senora de Candelaria, 18Department of Neurology, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, 19Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante
Objective:

This study aimed to assess the acceptance of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) testing among patients with early-stage relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and to identify associated factors.

 

Background:

sNfL testing correlates with multiple sclerosis disease activity, indicating its potential as a prognostic and treatment monitoring tool. However, initial patient awareness of sNfL and its potential benefits is limited.

Design/Methods:

A non-interventional, cross-sectional study was conducted across 16 neuroimmunology hospital-based clinics. We included RRMS patients with a disease duration of ≤3 years who were on disease-modifying therapy. Patient acceptance of sNfL testing was evaluated after providing them with a brief tutorial describing its benefits. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of acceptance.

Results:

The study included 147 patients (mean age 37.0 [SD 10.3] years, 69.4% female). Median disease duration was 1.3 years (IQR 0.8-2.1), and median EDSS score was 1.5 (IQR 0.0-2.0). A total of 84.0% of patients (N=121) agreed/strongly agreed to accept sNfL testing after being informed about its benefits. Furthermore, 62.5% (N=90) reported that they would feel more at ease while awaiting an MRI/follow-up visit if they knew sNfL levels were below their z-score. Before receiving this information, only 40.3% of patients (N=58) were aware of sNfL. Patients willing to undergo sNfL testing demonstrated higher knowledge of disease, reported greater treatment decision regret, and showed better physical quality of life and Symbol Digit Modalities Test performance compared to their counterparts. Higher disease knowledge (OR=1.52, 95%CI 1.16-1.99; p=0.002) and less severe symptom endorsement (OR=0.96, 95%CI 0.93-0.99; p=0.038) were associated with greater acceptance of sNfL testing in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

Patients, when informed about the benefits of sNfL testing, showed a high willingness to accept it. Disease knowledge predicted acceptance. These findings support the integration of sNfL into personalized MS management, especially with effective patient education.

10.1212/WNL.0000000000212902
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