title: Acute exacerbation of multiple sclerosis increases plasma levels of S-100 protein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether an increase in plasma concentration of S-100 protein can serve as a marker for acute exacerbation of multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plasma level of S-100 protein was investigated in 28 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. Of these, 17 patients were admitted for acute exacerbation and 11 patients had a stable disease with no clinical signs for acute exacerbation. S-100 protein concentrations in plasma were determined with an immunofluorometric sandwich assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma concentrations were significantly elevated in patients who were examined within 7 days after the onset of acute exacerbation (n = 6). S-100 levels of patients 8 to 28 days after the onset of acute exacerbation (n = 11) did not differ from healthy controls (n = 120). Eleven patients with multiple sclerosis without acute exacerbation had moderately elevated plasma levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plasma concentration of S-100 protein is a sensitive although unspecific indicator of neuronal damage and may be of use as a marker of disease activity in multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Missler
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Wandinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiesmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaps
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wessel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009418:S100 Proteins