Table 2.
Serum NFL levels in the different subgroups of patients with ALS.
| Variable | Serum NFL (pg/mL)* | P-value |
|---|---|---|
| Site of onset | ||
| Limb, n = 22 | 59.7 (38.9–91.4) | P = 0.447§ |
| Bulbar, n = 8 | 84.0 (49.1–119.0) | |
| Diagnostic delay (months) | ||
| ≤ 8.0, n = 13 | 93.5 (61.0–132.4) | P = 0.019§ |
| > 8.0, n = 12 | 52.3 (33.9–77.8) | |
| DPR | ||
| ≤ 0.49/month, n = 13 | 45.8 (28.3–58.3) | P < 0.001§ |
| > 0.49/month, n = 13 | 96.4 (71.1–132.4) | |
| Clinical stage | ||
| Stage 2, n = 10 | 54.1 (36.3–60.3) | Pstage2vs.3 = 0.033‡ |
| Stage 3, n = 11 | 98.6 (68.5–132.5) | Pstage3vs.4 = 0.358‡ |
| Stage 4, n = 9 | 67.0 (28.3–96.4) | Pstage2vs.4 = 0.718‡ |
ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; ALSFRS-r, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale revised; DPR, Disease progression rate; NFL, Neurofilament light chain.
*
Data are presented as median (interquartile range).
§
The Mann–Whitney U-test.
‡
The Steel-Dwass multiple comparison.
Bold type indicates a significant difference.