Measuring Levels Of CXCL12 In Spinal Fluid May Improve Diagnosis Of ALS, Study Finds

ALS News Today (9/10, Dominguez Cerezo) reports, “Measuring the levels of a novel protein biomarker called C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 — CXCL12 for short — in the spinal fluid may improve the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by better differentiating it from similar conditions, according to a new study.” ALS News Today adds, “In particular, the protein may be used in combination with neurofilament light chain (NfL), a well-known biomarker of nerve damage.” Although “NfL can distinguish ALS patients from healthy people with great accuracy, CXCL12 is better at discriminating the disease from other neurological conditions, the study found.” The findings were published in Brain Communications.