Motor phenotypes and neurofilament light chain in genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—results from a multicenter screening program

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Philipp Schmitt - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Peggy Schumann - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH (Author)
  • Alexander Koerbs - , Amedes Genetics (Author)
  • Hsuen Ju Lin - , Amedes Genetics (Author)
  • Torsten Grehl - , Alfried Krupp Krankenhaus (Author)
  • Ute Weyen - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Susanne Petri - , Hannover Medical School (MHH) (Author)
  • Annekathrin Rödiger - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Robert Steinbach - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Julian Großkreutz - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Lübeck (Author)
  • Sarah Bernsen - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, University of Bonn, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Patrick Weydt - , University of Bonn, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) (Author)
  • Joachim Wolf - , Diakonissenhospital Flensburg (Author)
  • René Günther - , Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Petra Baum - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Moritz Metelmann - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Jochen H. Weishaupt - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Berthold Streubel - , University of Vienna (Author)
  • David C. Kasper - , ARCHIMED Life Science GmbH (Author)
  • Yasemin Koc - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Dagmar Kettemann - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Jenny Norden - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Bertram Walter - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Christoph Münch - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH (Author)
  • Susanne Spittel - , Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH (Author)
  • André Maier - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Péter Körtvélyessy - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (Author)
  • Thomas Meyer - , Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie APST GmbH (Author)

Abstract

Objective: In genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the clinical phenotypes, disease progression and neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels are incompletely characterized. Methods: In a total cohort of 1988 ALS patients, a subcohort of genetic ALS linked to C9orf72 (n = 137), SOD1 (n = 54), TARDBP (n = 27), and FUS (n = 19) was investigated. The phenotypes of onset region, propagation and motor neuron involvement were analyzed according to the OPM classification. Serum NfL (sNfL) was measured and related to ALS progression (ALSPR, monthly change of ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised). To quantify NfL elevation relative to ALSPR, the logNfL(index), the log-transformed ratio of sNfL to ALSPR was calculated. Results: C9orf72-associated ALS showed frequent bulbar onset (n = 42.6%), higher ALSPR (0.95, SD 0.84), highest NfL (116.3, SD 72.7 pg/mL) and logNfL(index) (5.02, SD 0.88). SOD1-ALS had mostly limb onset (n = 96.1%), slower ALSPR (0.57, SD 0.60), high NfL (76.1, SD 61.4 pg/mL) and a comparably high logNfL(index) (4.94, SD 1.03). FUS-ALS exhibited mostly limb onset (82.4%), lower motor neuron dysfunction (70.6%), a wide range of faster (22.2%) to slower ALSPR (55.6%), lower NfL (66.2, SD 32.9) and logNfL(4.65, SD 0.9). TARDBP-ALS displayed the lowest ALSPR (0.53, SD 0.52), the lowest NfL (43.3, SD 31.8 pg/mL) and the lowest logNfL(index) (4.40, SD 0.7). Conclusion: In C9orf72-ALS, the phenotype and NfL profile are close to typical ALS. The finding of distinct phenotypes and NfL patterns in SOD1-, FUS- and TARDBP-associated ALS underscores the relevance of genetic ALS for prognostic counseling, clinical trial design, treatment expectations and unraveling of pathogenic mechanisms in ALS.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number22
JournalJournal of neurology
Volume273
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41388206

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • ALS progression, Genetic ALS, Neurofilament, Phenotype