Evaluation of serum neurofilament light chain protein (NEFL) levels in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and comparison of serum NEFL levels with control group

Aim: NEFL, which is a sub-unit of neurofilament proteins, is defined as a structural protein which exists particularly in axones of neurons and is released in consequence of neuroaxonal damage. The aim of the study is to analyze the role of NEFL protein in etiopathogenesis of ASD by comparing the serum NEFL levels of ASD diagnosed children and adolescence with the healthy control group and investigating the relation between serum NEFL levels and ASD severity. Method: In this study, 53 patients who were diagnosed with ASD applied to Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Yenimahalle Training and Research Hospital Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases Clinic. To evaluate diagnoses and psychiatric comorbidities of the patients and healthy control group, DSM-V based diagnostic psychiatric examination and K-SADS-PL were applied. In addition, sociodemographic and clinical data form were implemented for all of the participants and also ABC, CGI-S scales were applied to the case group. After blood samples were taken from the case and the healthy group, serum NEFL levels were measured and compared. Results: As a result of the study, there was no statically significant difference between ASD diagnosed group and the control group and also among ASD groups which were categorized according to symptom severity in respect of serum NEFL levels. In the case group, no linear relationship was found between the CARS, CGI-S, ABC total and subscales and serum NEFL levels. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that there was no difference between ASD and control group regarding serum NEFL levels. The fact that serum NEFL level, which is a reliable marker in detecting neuron damage, does not differ between groups, suggests that neurodegeneration does not continue in ASD. It might be useful to examine the NEFL level in the differential diagnosis of ASD with neurodegenerative diseases that can show clinically similar symptoms.