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ACVIM Resident Research Award Eligible
ACVIM Resident Research Award Eligible
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Additional Fees May Be Required
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By Invite Only
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Capturing for On Demand
Cardiology Research Abstract Award Eligible
Cardiology Research Abstract Award Eligible
ERC Approved Lecture for ACVIM Residency
ERC Approved Lecture for ACVIM Residency
ePoster
ePoster
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Livestream
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One Health
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Pre-Registration Required
RACE-Approved
RACE-Approved
Research Abstract
Research Abstract
Specialty Symposium
Specialty Symposium
State-of-the-Art (SOTA) Presentation
State-of-the-Art (SOTA) Presentation
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technician
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Neurology

Category: Research Abstract - ePoster

(N25) Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker for Distinguishing IE from Structural Brain Diseases in Dogs

Thursday, June 15, 2023
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM ET
Location: Solutions Center Poster Park - Kiosk 4
ePoster

    Research Abstract – ePoster Presenter(s)

  • Minju Baek, DVM (she/her/hers)

    DVM
    Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University
    Cheongju, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Republic of Korea

Abstract:

Background: The neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a cytoskeletal protein found in axons. When there is neuroaxonal damage, NfL is released into the peripheral circulation. Therefore, NfL has been used as a potential biomarker for diagnosing various human neurologic diseases. However, there have been few studies of NfL in veterinary medicine.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value of NfL in dogs with intracranial disease.

Animals: This retrospective study included 46 healthy dogs, 31 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE), 45 dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown aetiology (MUE), 20 dogs with hydrocephalus, and 19 dogs with brain tumours (BT).

Methods: In this case-control study, serum NfL levels were measured using single-molecule array technology.

Results: The serum NfL level in dogs with each structural disease was significantly higher than in healthy dogs and dogs with IE (P = 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of NfL for differentiating between dogs with structural diseases and IE was 0.868. An optimal cut-off value of the NfL 27.10 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 86.67% and a specificity of 74.19% to differentiate the dogs with IE from those with other structural brain diseases. There were significant correlations between NfL concentrations and lesion size: (1) MUE, P = 0.009, r = 0.429; (2) hydrocephalus, P = 0.012, r = 0.563.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Serum NfL could be a useful biomarker for distinguishing IE from structural diseases in dogs and predicting the lesion sizes of MUE and hydrocephalus.