Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Autoimmune inflammation is common in the early stages of MS. This stage is followed by the neurodegenerative process. The result of these changes is axon and myelin breakdown. Although MS is according to McDonald's revised diagnostic criteria primarily a clinical diagnosis, paraclinical investigation methods are an important part in the diagnosis of MS. In common practice, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spinal cord, examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and examination of visual evoked potentials are used. There are an increasing number of studies dealing with biomarkers in CSF and their role in the diagnosis and treatment of MS. We hypothesized that the levels of some markers could be changed in MS in comparison with controls. We studied five inflammatory markers [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8, interleukin-10 (IL-10), beta-2-microglobulin, orosomucoid]. CSF and serum levels of inflammatory markers were assessed in 38 patients with newly diagnosed MS meeting McDonald's revised diagnostic criteria and in 28 subjects as a control group (CG). Levels of beta-2-microglobulin and interleukin-8 in CSF were found to be significantly higher in MS patients in comparison to CG (p < 0.001 resp. p = 0.007). No differences in other CSF markers (IL-6, IL-10 and orosomucoid) and serum levels of all markers between both groups were found. The levels of two studied inflammatory markers were found to be increased at the time of first clinical symptoms of MS. Research on the role of inflammatory and neurodegenerative markers in MS should continue.

Department of Neurology Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacky University Olomouc Czech Republic

See more in PubMed

Brain. 2005 May;128(Pt 5):988-1002 PubMed

J Immunol. 2006 Jun 15;176(12):7768-74 PubMed

Mult Scler. 2009 Nov;15(11):1356-8 PubMed

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 08;8(10):e77163 PubMed

Med Sci Monit. 2000 Nov-Dec;6(6):1104-8 PubMed

Neurol Sci. 2003 Dec;24 Suppl 5:S301-4 PubMed

Clin Chim Acta. 2003 Aug;334(1-2):107-10 PubMed

J Neuroimmunol. 2006 Jul;176(1-2):134-40 PubMed

Neurol Res. 1992 Jun;14(3):282-3 PubMed

J Neuroimmunol. 2010 Apr 15;221(1-2):95-100 PubMed

J Neuroimmunol. 2004 Oct;155(1-2):161-71 PubMed

Acta Neurol Scand. 1988 Jul;78(1):72-5 PubMed

J Neuroimmunol. 2001 Apr 2;115(1-2):192-8 PubMed

Neurol Res. 2011 May;33(4):415-20 PubMed

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e48370 PubMed

J Neuroimmunol. 1991 Apr;32(1):67-74 PubMed

Am J Clin Pathol. 2011 Nov;136(5):696-704 PubMed

J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2011 Sep;6(3):381-8 PubMed

Eur J Neurol. 2005 Jan;12(1):49-54 PubMed

J Neuroimmunol. 2012 Mar;244(1-2):94-6 PubMed

Changes in oxygen saturation and the retinal nerve fibre layer in patients with optic neuritis associated with multiple sclerosis in a 6-month follow-up