Serum Neurofilament Light Chain and Structural and Functional Nerve Fiber Loss in Painful and Painless Diabetic Polyneuropathy
Authors' conclusion
Higher s-NfL was associated with nerve fiber dysfunction and loss quantified by QST and IENFD, but not with pain or clinical DPN scales. S-NfL may reflect the severity of nerve fiber damage underlying DPN.
Study context
- Population
- People with confirmed or probable diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) by Toronto criteria, with and without neuropathic painPeople with confirmed 172 · or probable 29
- Participants
- 79 vs 122
- Exposure
- Painless DPN vs painful DPN
- DPNn = 79reference
- Painful DPN (PDPN)n = 122
- Outcome
- Associations of serum NfL (s-NfL) with DPN severity and pain
Methodological detailssubset of the PiNS/DOLORisk cohort
- Subset of the PiNS/DOLORisk cohort
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
s-NfL
- Higher serum NfL (s-NfL) associated with lower intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) (unit = 1 fiber/mm, N = 24)
- 13.6 % [95 % CI 3.1; 22.9]
- Higher s-NfL associated with more pronounced loss of nerve fiber function by quantitative sensory testing (QST)
- P for trend = 0.02
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Serum Neurofilament Light Chain and Structural and Functional Nerve Fiber Loss in Painful and Painless Diabetic Polyneuropathy. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 19 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →