Is serum NSE a useful biomarker in multiple system atrophy?

Objective: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rapidly progressive and devastating neurodegenerative disease with limited lifespan. Biomarkers in diagnosing and evaluating the prognosis of MSA is a rapidly developing field. Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a biomarker of neuronal damage applicable in many neurological disorders. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of serum NSE as biomarker of MSA. Methods: In this case-control study involving 50 patients with MSA, electrochemiluminescence assay was used to investigate whether serum NSE levels. The disease severity of patients was assessed by Unified System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS part II). The correlation between NSE levels and clinical features in MSA patients was analyzed. Results: The NSE levels were higher in MSA patients (11.59±2.52 ng/mL) than the control group (11.30±2.73 ng/mL); however, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.581). In addition, no statistically significant difference was detected in the NSE levels between the parkinsonian (MSA-P) and cerebellar subtypes (MSA-C). No distinct difference was also detected between males and females of MSA patients. Furthermore, no correlations were established between NSE levels and age, disease duration, and UMSARS II score. Conclusions: This study suggest that serum NSE is not a useful biomarker of MSA. Future studies should examine whether there is a role for CSF NSE in reflecting neuronal damage in MSA patients.