title: Leptin as a marker of multiple sclerosis activity in patients treated with interferon-beta.
abstract: The role of leptin was investigated in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Control and MS patients showed comparable baseline serum leptin levels. During the first year of IFNbeta-1a treatment, leptin significantly decreased since 2 months after starting therapy in 11 patients who had no relapses. A significant decrease in IL12/IL10 ratio was observed in this group of patients only after 1 year of treatment. An increase of leptin was observed before the first clinical exacerbation in 13 relapsing patients. Leptin may play a pathogenic role in MS and can be a useful marker of disease activity and response to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy. annapaola_b@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anna Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Batocchi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotondi
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caggiula
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frisullo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Odoardi
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nociti
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carella
authors.forename: Pietro Attilio
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tonali
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirabella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D020738:Leptin; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a