Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Levels in the Intensive Care Unit: Comparison between Severely Ill Patients with and without Coronavirus Disease 2019

There is emerging evidence for multifarious neurological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but little known regarding whether they reflect structural damage to the nervous system. Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) a specific biomarker neuronal injury. We measured sNfL concentrations 29 critically ill COVID-19 patients, 10 non–COVID-19 and 259 healthy controls. After adjusting comorbidities age, were higher in patients with versus both comparator groups. Higher levels associated unfavorable short-term outcome, indicating that injury common pronounced patients. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:610–616