TY - JOUR

T1 - Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in Frontotemporal Dementia and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

T2 - A Systematic Review

AU - Bendstrup, Nathalie

AU - Hejl, Anne Mette

AU - Salvesen, Lisette

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022-IOS Press. All rights reserved.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Background: It can be challenging to discriminate between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, a correct diagnosis is a precondition for targeted treatment strategies and proper patient counseling. There has been a growing interest to identify cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, including neurofilament light chain (NfL). Objective: This systematic review evaluates the existing literature on neurofilament light in CSF aiming to validate its utility for differentiating FTD from PSP. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted. A broad range of synonyms for PSP, NfL, and FTD as well as associated MeSH terms, were combined and used as keywords when searching. Relevant data were extracted and assessed for risk of bias. Results: Nine studies including a total of 671 patients with FTD, 254 patients with PSP, 523 healthy controls, and 1,771 patients with other disorders were included in the review. Four studies found a significantly higher level of CSF NfL in FTD (n = 445) compared to PSP (n = 124); however, in three of these studies the difference was only significant in certain FTD variants. Four studies found no significant difference in CSF NfL between PSP (n = 98) and FTD (n = 248). One study found a significantly higher level of NfL in PSP (n = 33) compared to FTD (n = 16). Conclusion: In the majority of patients in the studies included in this review, a higher level of NfL in CSF was found in patients with FTD compared to patients with PSP; however, results were inconsistent and prospective studies including large study cohorts are needed.

AB - Background: It can be challenging to discriminate between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, a correct diagnosis is a precondition for targeted treatment strategies and proper patient counseling. There has been a growing interest to identify cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, including neurofilament light chain (NfL). Objective: This systematic review evaluates the existing literature on neurofilament light in CSF aiming to validate its utility for differentiating FTD from PSP. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted. A broad range of synonyms for PSP, NfL, and FTD as well as associated MeSH terms, were combined and used as keywords when searching. Relevant data were extracted and assessed for risk of bias. Results: Nine studies including a total of 671 patients with FTD, 254 patients with PSP, 523 healthy controls, and 1,771 patients with other disorders were included in the review. Four studies found a significantly higher level of CSF NfL in FTD (n = 445) compared to PSP (n = 124); however, in three of these studies the difference was only significant in certain FTD variants. Four studies found no significant difference in CSF NfL between PSP (n = 98) and FTD (n = 248). One study found a significantly higher level of NfL in PSP (n = 33) compared to FTD (n = 16). Conclusion: In the majority of patients in the studies included in this review, a higher level of NfL in CSF was found in patients with FTD compared to patients with PSP; however, results were inconsistent and prospective studies including large study cohorts are needed.

KW - Biomarkers

KW - frontotemporal dementia

KW - neurofilament proteins

KW - progressive supranuclear palsy

U2 - 10.3233/JAD-215616

DO - 10.3233/JAD-215616

M3 - Review

C2 - 35275542

AN - SCOPUS:85132651741

VL - 87

SP - 131

EP - 140

JO - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

JF - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

SN - 1387-2877

IS - 1

ER -