NfL and pNfH are increased in Friedreich’s ataxia

Stefanie Nicole Hayer, Inga Liepelt, Christian Barro, Carlo Wilke, Jens Kuhle, Peter Martus, Ludger Schöls, the EFACTS study group; J Neurol (2020). doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09722-6

Serum levels of NfL and pNfH are elevated in Friedreich’s ataxia, but differences to healthy controls decrease with increasing age. Long-term longitudinal data are required to explore whether this reflects a selection bias from early death of more severely affected individuals or a slowing down of the neurodegenerative process with age. In a pilot study over 2 years of follow-up—a period relevant for biomarkers indicating treatment effects—we found NfL levels to be stable.


NfL and pNfH are increased in Friedreich’s ataxia