title: Specific laboratory test for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis are much more susceptible to the inhibitory activity of linoleic acid (0.08 mg/ml) when tested for sensitization to thyroid by the macrophage electrophoretic mobility test (91% inhibition) than are those from normal subjects (57% inhibition). Cells from patients with a variety of other neurological diseases give 47% inhibition with linoleic acid. These differences are specific for multiple sclerosis and can be used as an in-vitro diagnostic test for the disease. Nearly 43% of clinically normal near relatives of patients with multiple sclerosis show an "anomalous" figure of about 77%; in the remainder the figure is the same as in the general population (57%). An anomalous result is compatible with lifelong freedom from M.S. Possibly a congenital anomalous handling of unsaturated fatty acids is a constant feature of the disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014373:Tuberculin
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D014373:Tuberculin