Kappa-Free Light Chains in CSF Predict Early Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether κ-free light chain (κ-FLC) index predicts multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity independent of demographics, clinical characteristics, and MRI findings. METHODS: Patients with early MS who had CSF and serum sampling at disease onset were followed for 4 years. At baseline, age, sex, type of symptoms, corticosteroid treatment, and number of T2 hyperintense (T2L) and contrast-enhancing T1 lesions (CELs) on MRI were determined. During follow-up, the occurrence of a second clinical attack and start of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) were registered. κ-FLCs were measured by nephelometry, and κ-FLC index calculated as [CSF κ-FLC/serum κ-FLC]/albumin quotient. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients at a mean age of 33 ± 10 years and female predominance of 68% were included; 38 (43%) patients experienced a second clinical attack during follow-up. In multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, T2L, CEL, disease and follow-up duration, administration of corticosteroids at baseline and DMT during follow-up revealed that κ-FLC index predicts time to second clinical attack. Patients with κ-FLC index >100 (median value 147) at baseline had a twice as high probability for a second clinical attack within 12 months than patients with low κ-FLC index (median 28); within 24 months, the chance in patients with high κ-FLC index was 4 times as high as in patients with low κ-FLC index. The median time to second attack was 11 months in patients with high κ-FLC index whereas 36 months in those with low κ-FLC index. CONCLUSION: High κ-FLC index predicts early MS disease activity. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that in patients with early MS, high κ-FLC index is an independent risk factor for early second clinical attack.