b'Medicine & ResearchAABBllooooddTTeessttffoorrMMSSMMoonniittoorriinnggCCoonnssoorrttiiuummooffMMSSCCeenntteerrssRReelleeaasseessNNeewwGGuuiiddeelliinneessThe Consortium of MS Centers recentlyto no debris, the castle is still protected. If there released a consensus statement on the use ofis much debris, you must take quick action to serum neurolament light chain biomarkersprotect the castle. Similarly, if high levels of in monitoring MS. While sN has been studiedNarefoundinyourserum,yourdoctor for some time and is being used in research,knows damage is taking place and can form these guidelines open the way for more wide- a battle plan. spread use in the regular care and treatmentHow will this test be used?of people with MS. While no test has yet beenCurrently, the main uses of sN testing FDA approved specically for use in MS, somewill be to detect changes in the level of disease doctors are already using available sN testsactivity and to monitor whether a disease-to monitor their patients. (FDA approval withmodifying therapy is effective.an MS indication is expected and may happen as early as autumn of this year.)This testing has been shown to be predictive, So what is sN testing and how can it testmeaning levels of sN increase before active benet you?lesions appear on MRI. This allows doctors to takequickeractiontoprotect youagainst Debris in the river neuronal damage than in the past. If your MS Neurolaments are microscopic proteinis not active, your sN levels may be similar polymers that are part of the cytoskeleton ofto healthy controls. If periodic testing shows yournervecells.Theselamentsprovidean increase in your sN levels, you and your structural support to the cell. When the nervedoctor may decide to alter your treatment plan.cell (called a neuron) is damaged, fragmentsBecause sNfl testing is simple and cost-of these neurolaments are released into youreffective, your doctor may recommend this cerebrospinal uid and blood (or serum). Byblood test as often as every three months, or measuring how much N is in your blood,if you are stable, may recommend longer your doctor receives an indication of howintervals. This test will not replace MRI testing, active your MS is.but some doctors may choose to repeat MRI Imagine your brain as a castle high on aless frequently.hillsurroundedbyariver.TheindividualThis test is new and may or may not be bricks that make up the walls of the castle arecovered by insurance at this time, but it is your neurons. When these bricks come underlikelythatasitbecomesFDAapproved attack, bits of debris (neurolaments) fall intospecically for MS, insurance coverage will the river (your bloodstream and cerebrospinalexpand. If your insurance denies the test, ask uid) and are carried downstream. There youyour doctor to help appeal the decision. The can see the debris in the river. If there is littlecost of the test varies by location and brand, msfocusmagazine.org 28'