Plasma homocysteine levels in multiple sclerosis

Background: There is evidence that homocysteine contributes to various neurodegenerative disorders, and elevated plasma homocysteine levels have been observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To investigate if and why plasma homocysteine levels are increased in MS, and whether they play a role in the disease course. Methods: We compared plasma levels of homocysteine in 88 patients with MS and 57 healthy controls. In the MS group, 28 had a benign course, 37 were secondary progressive, and 23 primary progressive. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we measured serum levels of vitamins B-6 and B-12, folate, interleukin (IL)-12, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, leukocyte nitric oxide production, and plasma diene conjugate levels (measure of oxidative stress). Results: Mean (SD) plasma homocysteine concentration was higher in patients (13.8 (4.9) mu mol/l) than in controls (10.1 (2.5) mu mol/l; p Conclusions: Elevated plasma homocysteine occurs in both benign and progressive disease courses of MS, and seems unrelated to immune activation, oxidative stress, or a deficiency in vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, or folate

Peripheral blood leukocyte NO production and oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis

Background The reason for increased peripheral blood leukocyte ( PBL) nitric oxide ( NO) production in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS) is unknown. Objective To investigate whether PBL NO production is related to measures of oxidative stress. Methods PBL nitrite, diene conjugates ( DC, a measure of undergone oxidative stress), antiradical activity ( ARA) and antioxidant acitvity ( AOA) were measured in 35 healthy control persons and 80 patients with MS. We investigated the correlation of these measures with a partial correlation analysis, with age as the control variable. Results There was a significant correlation in both MS patients and healthy control persons between PBL nitrite levels and PBL DC, ARA and AOA. The correlations were stronger in healthy control persons. An analysis by disease subtype showed that the correlations were present in patients with relapsing - remitting and secondary progressive MS, but absent in primary progressive MS. Conclusions PBL nitrite levels and measures of oxidative stress are closely related in MS- patients as well as in healthy control persons. Increased serum NO levels in MS may be the result of a physiologic reaction to overall oxidative stress. The differences in the strength of correlation between different disease subtypes may reflect differences in leukocyte biology. Multiple Sclerosis 2008