Kappa Free Light Chains (KFLC) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)

NCT ID: NCT07183020

Last Updated: 2025-09-19

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Total Enrollment

1142 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-10-27

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this observational study is to learn about the role of kappa free light chains (KFLC) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The main question it aims to answer is:

Are KFLC superior, inferior or equally useful in the diagnostic work-up of CSF of patients with MS and CIS?

In CSF and serum sample pairs of patients diagnosed with MS or CIS, KFLC are measured using a nephelometric assay and are compared with the gold standard, of CSF diagnostics, oligoclonal bands.

Detailed Description

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In this multicenter study, paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from patients with chronic inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (multiple sclerosis (MS) / clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)) are investigated to evaluate the diagnostic utility of CSF-specific oligoclonal bands and kappa free light chains (KFLC). Both biomarkers have already demonstrated diagnostic relevance in this patient population, but comparative multicenter studies are still lacking. Another key challenge for the clinical implementation of KFLC is the absence of standardized reference values, as different cut-offs were proposed.

To address this gap, CSF-specific oligoclonal bands and KFLC are prospectively analyzed in a multicenter cohort of patients with MS / CIS. Samples and associated data are collected prospectively and partially retrospectively from participating centers. Included patients are followed longitudinally to determine whether conversion from CIS to clinical definite MS occurs and to monitor disease progression over time.

Conditions

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Multiple Sclerosis Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS)

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) / clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)

Patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and an available pair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum

Oligoclonal bands and kappa free light chains (KFLC)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Comparison of oligoclonal bands and kappa free light chains (KFLC) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) / clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)

Interventions

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Oligoclonal bands and kappa free light chains (KFLC)

Comparison of oligoclonal bands and kappa free light chains (KFLC) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) / clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) according to 2017-revised McDonald criteria for MS
* age between 18 and 70 years

Exclusion Criteria

* no diagnosis of MS or CIS according to 2017-revised McDonald criteria for MS
* no available cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum sample pairs
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Skripuletz, Thomas Prof. Dr.

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Skripuletz, Thomas Prof. Dr.

Prof. Dr. med., MD

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover / Hannover Medical School

Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany

Site Status

Countries

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Germany

References

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Schwenkenbecher P, Konen FF, Wurster U, Jendretzky KF, Gingele S, Suhs KW, Pul R, Witte T, Stangel M, Skripuletz T. The Persisting Significance of Oligoclonal Bands in the Dawning Era of Kappa Free Light Chains for the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 29;19(12):3796. doi: 10.3390/ijms19123796.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30501024 (View on PubMed)

Schwenkenbecher P, Konen FF, Wurster U, Witte T, Gingele S, Suhs KW, Stangel M, Skripuletz T. Reiber's Diagram for Kappa Free Light Chains: The New Standard for Assessing Intrathecal Synthesis? Diagnostics (Basel). 2019 Nov 16;9(4):194. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics9040194.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31744096 (View on PubMed)

Konen FF, Wurster U, Witte T, Jendretzky KF, Gingele S, Tumani H, Suhs KW, Stangel M, Schwenkenbecher P, Skripuletz T. The Impact of Immunomodulatory Treatment on Kappa Free Light Chains as Biomarker in Neuroinflammation. Cells. 2020 Mar 31;9(4):842. doi: 10.3390/cells9040842.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32244362 (View on PubMed)

Konen FF, Schwenkenbecher P, Jendretzky KF, Gingele S, Suhs KW, Tumani H, Susse M, Skripuletz T. The Increasing Role of Kappa Free Light Chains in the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Cells. 2021 Nov 6;10(11):3056. doi: 10.3390/cells10113056.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34831279 (View on PubMed)

Susse M, Konen FF, Schwenkenbecher P, Budde K, Nauck M, Grothe M, Hannich MJ, Skripuletz T. Decreased Intrathecal Concentrations of Free Light Chains Kappa in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Taking Very High Effective Disease-Modifying Treatment. Diagnostics (Basel). 2022 Mar 16;12(3):720. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12030720.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35328273 (View on PubMed)

Konen FF, Schwenkenbecher P, Jendretzky KF, Gingele S, Witte T, Suhs KW, Grothe M, Hannich MJ, Susse M, Skripuletz T. Kappa Free Light Chains in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Inflammatory and Non-Inflammatory Neurological Diseases. Brain Sci. 2022 Apr 3;12(4):475. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12040475.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35448006 (View on PubMed)

Konen FF, Hannich MJ, Schwenkenbecher P, Grothe M, Gag K, Jendretzky KF, Gingele S, Suhs KW, Witte T, Skripuletz T, Susse M. Diagnostic Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarker in Early and Late Onset Multiple Sclerosis. Biomedicines. 2022 Jul 7;10(7):1629. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10071629.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35884934 (View on PubMed)

Hannich MJ, Konen FF, Gag K, Alkhayer A, Turker SN, Budde K, Nauck M, Wurster U, Dressel A, Skripuletz T, Susse M. Implications of monoclonal gammopathy and isoelectric focusing pattern 5 on the free light chain kappa diagnostics in cerebrospinal fluid. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2024 Jul 23;63(1):147-153. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2023-1468. Print 2025 Jan 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 39039726 (View on PubMed)

Konen FF, Wurster U, Schwenkenbecher P, Gerritzen A, Gross CC, Eichhorn P, Harrer A, Isenmann S, Lewczuk P, Lewerenz J, Leypoldt F, Otto M, Regeniter A, Roskos M, Ruprecht K, Spreer A, Strik H, Uhr M, Wick M, Wildemann B, Wiltfang J, Zimmermann T, Hannich M, Khalil M, Tumani H, Susse M, Skripuletz T; German Society for Cerebrospinal Fluid Diagnostics and Clinical Neurochemistry (DGLN e.V.). Oligoclonal bands and kappa free light chains: Competing parameters or complementary biomarkers? Autoimmun Rev. 2025 Apr 30;24(5):103765. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2025.103765. Epub 2025 Feb 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 39947571 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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10167_B0_K2022

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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