Evaluation of Serum and Aqueous Humor Neurofilament Light Chain As Markers of Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma

Overview

Journal Transl Vis Sci Technol

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
Ophthalmology

Date 2025 Feb 25

PMID 39998458

Authors

Jonathan B Lin

Hani El Helwe

Henisk Falah

Bruno L Hammerschlag

Stephanie A Schultz

George Baldwin

Yixi Xue

Ryan A Vasan

Christian Song

Kristine Lo

Austin Meeker

Silas L Wang

Pia Kivisakk

David Sola-Del Valle

Milica A Margeta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum and aqueous humor (AH) neurofilament light chain (NfL) and to determine whether serum NfL is elevated in patients undergoing ocular surgery who have glaucoma compared with those who do not.

Methods: In this single-center, case-control study, we enrolled patients with various types and stages of glaucoma undergoing planned ophthalmic surgery as part of their routine care and compared them with patients without glaucoma undergoing phacoemulsification for age-related cataract. We recruited 110 patients with glaucoma and 113 patients without glaucoma and collected AH and blood from these participants. Levels of AH and serum NfL were quantified using the Single-Molecule Array (Simoa) NF-light assay (Quanterix). Clinical information was obtained by reviewing the medical records.

Results: In a model controlling for age and body mass index (BMI), AH NfL was significantly elevated in patients with glaucoma compared with controls (P < 0.001). In contrast, after controlling for age, BMI, and Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores, serum NfL was not elevated in patients with glaucoma compared with controls (P = 0.81).

Conclusions: Although our findings validate AH NfL as a marker of glaucomatous neurodegeneration, no such evidence was found for serum NfL.

Translational Relevance: NfL levels in AH may be a molecular marker of retinal ganglion cell health in glaucoma; in contrast, serum NfL has limited utility for monitoring glaucomatous neurodegeneration.

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