Serum neurofilament light protein correlates with unfavorable clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Brain imaging studies of patients with COVID-19 show evidence of macro- and microhemorrhagic lesions, multi-focal white matter hyperintensities, and lesions consistent with posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy. Imaging studies, however, are subject to selection bias, and prospective studies are challenging to scale. Here, we evaluated whether serum neurofilament light chain (NFL), a neuroaxonal injury marker, could predict the extent of neuronal damage in a cohort of 142 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. NFL was elevated in the serum of patients with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls, including those without overt neurological manifestations. Higher NFL serum concentrations were associated with worse clinical outcomes. In 100 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with remdesivir, a trend toward lower NFL serum concentrations was observed. These data suggest that patients with COVID-19 may experience neuroaxonal injury and may be at risk for long-term neurological sequelae. Neuroaxonal injury should be considered as an outcome in acute pharmacotherapeutic trials for COVID-19.

Automated summary

Brain imaging studies of COVID-19 patients have shown evidence of neuroaxonal injury, and serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NFL) may predict the extent of neuronal damage and are associated with clinical outcomes. Lower NFL serum concentrations were observed in COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir, suggesting that neuroaxonal injury should be considered as an outcome in acute pharmacotherapeutic trials for COVID-19.