The emerging role of serum neurofilaments in pediatric neurological disorders

Neurofilaments, particularly neurofilament light chain (NfL), have emerged as promising biomarkers of neuroaxonal damage across a wide range of neurological diseases. While their application in adult neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease or Multiple sclerosis is becoming common practice, particularly in the realm of disease monitoring, their utility in pediatric neurological diseases remains under active investigation. This review summarizes current evidence on the potential role of neurofilaments with a focus on their potential clinical application, particularly in neuroinflammatory conditions, as well as in other relevant pediatric neurological disorders. The review further outlines the biological and pathophysiological aspects of NfL, laboratory techniques for the measurement of NfL in clinical practice, and the importance of age-dependent reference values. The purpose of this review is to provide pediatric neurologists with an overview of the available evidence on the potential role of NfL in pediatric neurological diseases including the pitfalls that should be addressed in future studies.