Nicola Salvadori (Italy)
University of Perugia Department of Medicine and SurgeryAuthor Of 1 Presentation
A CSF BIOMARKER OF INTRATHECAL B CELLS ACTIVATION CORRELATES WITH MEMORY IMPAIRMENT IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
- Lorenzo Gaetani (Italy)
Abstract
Background and Aims:
Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common clinical feature of multiple sclerosis (MS), but its pathophysiology is only partially known. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, by reflecting the ongoing pathology, may help in better understanding the determinants of CI in MS. Kappa free light chain index (k-index) is a sensitive biomarker of intrathecal B cells activation. Herein, we investigated the association between k-index and cognitive performance in MS patients.
Methods:
We selected for the study relapsing MS patients who, at the time of the diagnostic work-up, underwent CSF analysis and a complete neuropsychological assessment with the Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRBN). k-index was assessed by nephelometry in a Siemens™ BN II automated analyser using N latex FLC kappa assay for CSF and serum samples (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics).
Results:
Thirty-nine patients (F:M 2.9, mean age 39.3±13.1 years) were included in the study. k-index was not significantly different between patients with and without global CI and spatial memory, information processing speed and verbal fluency impairment. On the contrary, k-index was higher in patients with verbal memory impairment (median 99.6, range 58.5-195.2 vs. median 37.2, range 2.3-396.9, p<0.05). k-index was negatively associated with Selective Reminding Test (SRT) scores and explained up to 32% of their variance (SRT-LTS: r =-0.6, p<0.001; R2=0.32, F(1.37)=17.2, p<0.001; SRT-CLTR: r=-0.5, p<0.01; R2=0.22, F(1.4)=10.5, p<0.01; SRT-DR: r=-0.4, p<0.05; R2=0.16, F(1.4)=6.7, p<0.05) (Figure).
Conclusions:
k-index is higher in MS patients with impaired verbal memory. Intrathecal B cells activation may be associated with memory dysfunction in MS through mechanisms that deserve further investigations.