Volume 2024, Issue 1 3542876

Research Article

Open Access

Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Correlate With Skin Inflammation and Scratch Lesions in Patients With Pruritus

Simon M. Mueller,

Corresponding Author

Simon M. Mueller

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-0200-4254

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Jie Zhu,

Jie Zhu

orcid.org/0000-0002-3820-6747

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Oliver Brandt,

Oliver Brandt

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Alexander A. Navarini,

Alexander A. Navarini

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Oezguer Yaldizli,

Oezguer Yaldizli

Neurologic Clinic and Policlinic , MS Center and Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB) , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Athina Papadopoulou,

Athina Papadopoulou

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Jens Kuhle,

Jens Kuhle

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Simon M. Mueller,

Corresponding Author

Simon M. Mueller

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-0200-4254

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Jie Zhu,

Jie Zhu

orcid.org/0000-0002-3820-6747

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Oliver Brandt,

Oliver Brandt

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Alexander A. Navarini,

Alexander A. Navarini

Department of Dermatology , University Hospital Basel , University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland , unibas.ch

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Oezguer Yaldizli,

Oezguer Yaldizli

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Athina Papadopoulou,

Athina Papadopoulou

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Jens Kuhle,

Jens Kuhle

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First published: 13 October 2024

https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/3542876

Academic Editor: Piotr Krajewski

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Abstract

Background: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been identified as a biomarker in neuroaxonal injury. Cutaneous nerve injury resulting from inflammation and/or forced scratching may also potentially affect serum NfL (sNfL) levels.

Objectives: We aimed to explore the relationship between sNfL levels and the severity of skin inflammation and scratch lesions in patients with pruritus.

Methods: In this cross-sectional pilot study, we measured the sNfL levels of 10 patients with pruritus of different aetiologies, and calculated age- and BMI-adjusted sNfL percentiles based on a normative database consisting of 4532 control individuals. Next, we investigated the relationship between the levels of sNfL and the severity of skin inflammation and scratching injuries in these patients using a newly-created Skin Inflammation and Scratch Lesions (SISL) score.

Results: A positive correlation was observed between sNfL levels and the severity of skin inflammation and scratch lesions as measured by the SISL score (Spearman’s rho = 0.70, p = 0.031). When correlated separately, both the “skin inflammation only” and “scratch lesions only” scores correlated positively with sNfL levels (Spearman’s rho = 0.68, p = 0.031; Spearman’s rho = 0.66, p = 0.041, respectively).

Conclusions: sNfL may be a potential biomarker for cutaneous nerve injury associated with skin inflammation and/or scratching.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

The data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Supporting Information

References

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Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Correlate With Skin Inflammation and Scratch Lesions in Patients With Pruritus

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Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Correlate With Skin Inflammation and Scratch Lesions in Patients With Pruritus

Abstract

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Supporting Information

References

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References

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