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Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a monogenetic motoneuron disease with onset in childhood or adolescence, clinically characterised by spinal and bulbar muscle weakness and atrophy. SMA type 1 is the acute and thus most severe form of disease, where an early and progressive loss of motoneurons occurs. Recently, the antisense-oligonucleotide nusinersen has been approved for treatment. Nusinersen has to be administered intrathecally by lumbar puncture on days 0, 14, 28 and 63 followed by maintenance therapy at intervals of 4 months. Clinical studies showed an improvement in motor function, particularly in patients with SMA type 1.1
Neurofilaments (Nf) are important structural elements of neurons and their axons.2 In various neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Nf were observed and their usefulness for diagnosis and prognosis was demonstrated.3 Increased CSF tau levels have been found in several neurological diseases associated with significant neuronal loss; however, it still remains a matter of debate whether CSF tau can serve as diagnostic marker in ALS.4 5
Therefore, the question arises, what role CSF Nf and tau play in SMA and how important the use of these parameters in SMA could be with regard to new therapies. …