Changes in neurofilament light chain protein (NEFL) in children and adolescents with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: Early period neurodegeneration.

AIM: Neurofilament light chain protein (NEFL), is defined as a structural protein which exists particularly in axones of neurons and is released to the cerum in consequence of neuroaxonal damage. The aim of this study is to investigate the peripheral cerumNEFLlevels of children and adolescents with early onset schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

METHOD: In this study, we evaluated serum levels of NEFL in children and adolescents (13-17 years) with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy control group. The study is conducted with 35 schizophrenia, 38 bipolar disorder manic episode patients and 40 healthy controls.

RESULTS

The median age of the patient and control groups was 16 (IQR- Interquartile Range: 2). There was no statistical difference in median age (p = 0.52) and gender distribution(p = 0.53) between groups. NEFL levels of the patients with schizophrenia were significantly higher than the controls. NEFL levels of the patients with bipolar disorder were significantly higher than the controls. Serum levels of NEFL of the schizophrenia were higher than the bipolar disorder; however, the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, serum NEFL level, as a confidential marker of neural damage, is increased in the children and adolescents with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. This result may indicatea degenerative period in neurons of children and adolescents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and may play a role in the pathophisiology of these disorders. This result shows that there is neuronal damage in both diseases, but neuronal damage may be more in schizophrenia.