Elevated serum neurofilament light chain in children autism spectrum disorder: A case control study

Objective: We aimed to assess serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to investigate whether they are related to the severity of disease. Methods: The cohorts consisted of 166 children aged 3-8 (83 children diagnosed with ASD and 83 children with typically-developing). sNfL were analyzed using Single Molecule Array (Simoa) technology. ASD symptom severity was assessed according to the Chinese version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score. Results: The mean age of those included ASD was 5.1 years (standard deviations [S.D.]: 1.7) and 78.3 % were boys. The mean (SD) sNfL concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in ASD than in TP children (10.2[5.0] pg/mL and 7.1[3.2]pg/mL). For each 1 pg/mL increase of sNfL, the risk of ASD would increase by 19 % (with the OR (unadjusted) of 1.19 [95 % CI 1.10-1.29], P < 0.001) and 11 % (with the OR (adjusted) of 1.11 [1.03-1.23], P < 0.001), respectively. sNfL concentrations in children with severe ASD were higher than in those children with mild-to-moderate ASD (12.4[5.1] pg/mL vs. 8.3[4.2]pg/mL; P < 0.001). Among ASD cases, each 1 pg/mL increase of sNfL is associated with 20 % higher unadjusted or 11 % higher adjusted odds, respectively, of severe (vs. mild-to-moderate) ASD. Conclusions: The data showed that sNfL was elevated in ASD and related to symptom severity, suggesting that sNfL may play a role in ASD progression.