This prospective cohort study is designed to characterize the utility of sNfL as a biomarker in clinical practice. This study also aims to understand how access to sNfL measures affects patient and clinician knowledge of their disease status and capture how this may have the potential to influence clinical decision-making. Level of disability, cognitive changes, fatigue, depression, and quality of life to detect clinical and subclinical worsening will be measured. While there is strong evidence in support of sNfL as a potential biomarker, literature regarding the application of sNfL in a real-world clinical practice setting is lacking. Understanding the utility of this test to clinicians and patients as a biomarker of MS disease activity is essential. Additionally, the optimum sampling frequency in clinical practice should be investigated to further elucidate its practicality. Given recent advances in the treatment of MS, there is increasing need for convenient and accessible measures of treatment efficacy.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
42
The purpose of this research is to investigate a biomarker, called serum neurofilament light (sNfL), which is measured in blood. This study will attempt to investigate whether or not sNfL is a useful tool for clinicians in patients diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
Dent Neurologic Institute
Amherst, New York, United States
Evaluate the utility of sNfL levels to aid with clinical decision-making by examining clinicians' understanding of patient's clinical status before sNfL results are received vs. after sNfL results are received
This outcome is based on structured clinician questionnaires developed for this study. Prior to receiving patient sNfL results, clinicians will answer the question "My current clinical impression of this patient's disease status is (circle one): a. Stable, b. Suspected disease activity, c. Confirmed disease activity, d. At risk for relapse, e. Relapse, f. Other (please specify)." After receiving patient sNfL results, clinicians will answer the question "After reviewing this patient's sNfL results along with other diagnostic testing at this time, my opinion of the patient's disease status is (circle one): a. Stable, b. Suspected disease activity, c. Confirmed disease activity, d. At risk for relapse, e. Relapse, f. Other (please specify)" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Evaluate the utility of sNfL levels to aid with clinical decision-making by examining clinicians' opinion as to how sNfL results could guide clinical practice
This outcome is based on a structured clinician questionnaire developed for this study. Clinicians will answer the question: "This patient's sNfL results have had the following impact on my opinions or confidence in this patient's care plan, or have potential to guide my clinical practice in the following way (please list specifics, e.g., increased confidence in assessment of disease status; decision to order additional testing; change in mediation therapy; change in frequency of follow-up, etc)" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe the optimal sNfL sampling frequency by capturing frequency of unscheduled clinician-ordered sNfL measurements.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe the optimal sNfL sampling frequency by capturing reason for unscheduled clinician-ordered sNfL measurements.
This outcome is based on a structured clinician questionnaire developed for this study. Prior to receiving patient's sNfL results, clinicians will answer the question, "Is this an unscheduled sNfL measurement? Yes No; If yes, please specify reason why this sNfL measurement was scheduled" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe the optimal sNfL sampling frequency by capturing usefulness of scheduled and unscheduled sNfL measurements based on a visual analog scale.
After receiving sNfL results, clinicians will answer the following prompt on a visual analog scale: "Knowledge of sNfL level has the potential to be useful in my clinical practice for this patient" and these answers will be reported. The scale is measured from "Not at all" to "extremely."
Time frame: 1 year
Describe the optimal sNfL sampling frequency by capturing usefulness of scheduled and unscheduled sNfL measurements based on a visual analog scale.
After receiving sNfL results, clinicians will answer the following prompt on a visual analog scale: "sNfL results has the potential to be a useful/suitable alternative to MRI for this patient" and these answers will be reported. The scale is measured from "Not at all" to "extremely."
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient demographics
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient comorbidities
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient concomitant medications
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient MS medications
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient reasons for MS medication changes
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient MS relapses including date of relapse
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient MS relapses including clinical findings
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient MS relapses including radiologic findings
Time frame: 1 year
Describe patient MS relapses including severity
Severity of MS relapses will be described by change in EDSS score from non-relapsing EDSS measurement.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patients' perceptions of undergoing sNfL measurements vs. receiving an MRI based on a structured questionnaire.
This outcome is based on a structured patient questionnaire developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question after receiving sNfL results: "How much do you agree with the following statements on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is "completely disagree" and 10 is "completely agree"? Compared to MRI, sNfL draws were more accessible: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ " and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patients' perceptions of undergoing sNfL measurements vs. receiving an MRI based on a structured questionnaire.
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This outcome is based on a structured patient questionnaire developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question after receiving sNfL results: "How much do you agree with the following statements on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is "completely disagree" and 10 is "completely agree"? Compared to MRI, sNfL draws were more burdensome: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patients' perceptions of undergoing sNfL measurements vs. receiving an MRI based on a structured questionnaire.
This outcome is based on a structured patient questionnaire developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question after receiving sNfL results: "How much do you agree with the following statements on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is "completely disagree" and 10 is "completely agree"? Compared to MRI, sNfL draws were more uncomfortable: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patients' perceptions of undergoing sNfL measurements vs. receiving an MRI based on a structured questionnaire.
This outcome is based on a structured patient questionnaire developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question after receiving sNfL results: "How much do you agree with the following statements on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is "completely disagree" and 10 is "completely agree"? Compared to MRI, sNfL draws were easier to fit into my schedule: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patients' perceptions of undergoing sNfL measurements vs. receiving an MRI based on a structured questionnaire.
This outcome is based on a structured patient questionnaire developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question after receiving sNfL results: "How much do you agree with the following statements on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is "completely disagree" and 10 is "completely agree"? Compared to MRI, sNfL results were more difficult to understand: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patients' understanding of their disease before sNfL results are received vs. after sNfL results are received via a structured questionnaire.
This outcome is based on structured patient questionnaires developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question before and after receiving sNfL results: "My current understanding of my MS disease is that I am (circle one): a. Stable, b. Experiencing increased disease activity, c. At risk for relapse, d. Experiencing a relapse, e. Unknown" and these answers will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patient attitudes towards sNfL sampling via a structured questionnaire.
This outcome is based on a structured patient questionnaire developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question after receiving sNfL results: "How much do you agree with the following statements on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is "completely disagree" and 10 is "completely agree"? sNfL results were easy to understand: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_" and these results will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Explore patient attitudes towards sNfL measurements by capturing patient attitudes towards sNfL sampling via a structured questionnaire.
This outcome is based on a structured patient questionnaire developed for this study. Patients will answer the following question after receiving sNfL results: "How much do you agree with the following statements on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is "completely disagree" and 10 is "completely agree"? sNfL results increased my knowledge of my MS disease status: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_" and these results will be reported.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare sNfL levels after initiation of a new MS disease-modifying therapy (DMT; when patient is treated with a DMT) vs. prior to MS DMT initiation (when patient is not treated with any DMT) where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare sNfL levels at scheduled sampling time points between patients initiating any new MS DMT vs. patients who do not change MS DMT where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare sNfL levels in patients who have a clinical or radiologic relapse during the study vs. patients who do not.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe changes in sNfL levels with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) where available.
EDSS scale is from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates normal neurologic exam and 10 indicates death due to MS.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe changes in sNfL levels with Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) where available.
SDMT scale is from 0 to 110, where 0 indicates none correct and 110 indicates all correct.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe changes in sNfL levels with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) where available.
PHQ-9 scores from 0 to 27, where 1-4 indicates minimal depression and 20-27 indicates severe depression.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe changes in sNfL levels with Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life - 54 (MSQOL-54) physical health summary score where available.
MSQOL-54 scale scores range from 0 to 100 and a higher scale score indicates improved quality of life.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe changes in sNfL levels with Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life - 54 (MSQOL-54) mental health summary score where available.
MSQOL-54 scale scores range from 0 to 100 and a higher scale score indicates improved quality of life.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe changes in sNfL levels with magnetic resonance imaging disease activity where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Describe changes in sNfL levels with changes to multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare changes in sNfL levels with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) where available.
EDSS scale is from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates normal neurologic exam and 10 indicates death due to MS.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare changes in sNfL levels with Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) where available.
SDMT scale is from 0 to 110, where 0 indicates none correct and 110 indicates all correct.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare changes in sNfL levels with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) where available.
PHQ-9 scores from 0 to 27, where 1-4 indicates minimal depression and 20-27 indicates severe depression.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare changes in sNfL levels with Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life - 54 (MSQOL-54) physical health summary score where available.
MSQOL-54 scale scores range from 0 to 100 and a higher scale score indicates improved quality of life.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare changes in sNfL levels with Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life - 54 (MSQOL-54) mental health summary score where available.
MSQOL-54 scale scores range from 0 to 100 and a higher scale score indicates improved quality of life.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare changes in sNfL levels with magnetic resonance imaging disease activity where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Compare changes in sNfL levels with changes to multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Correlate changes in sNfL levels with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Correlate changes in sNfL levels with Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) where available.
SDMT scale is from 0 to 110, where 0 indicates none correct and 110 indicates all correct.
Time frame: 1 year
Correlate changes in sNfL levels with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) where available.
PHQ-9 scores from 0 to 27, where 1-4 indicates minimal depression and 20-27 indicates severe depression.
Time frame: 1 year
Correlate changes in sNfL levels with Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life - 54 (MSQOL-54) physical health summary score where available.
MSQOL-54 scale scores range from 0 to 100 and a higher scale score indicates improved quality of life.
Time frame: 1 year
Correlate changes in sNfL levels with Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life - 54 (MSQOL-54) mental health summary score where available.
MSQOL-54 scale scores range from 0 to 100 and a higher scale score indicates improved quality of life.
Time frame: 1 year
Correlate changes in sNfL levels with magnetic resonance imaging disease activity where available.
Time frame: 1 year
Correlate changes in sNfL levels with changes to multiple sclerosis disease-modifying therapy where available.
Time frame: 1 year