title: Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity predicts disease progression in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Clinical studies have shown that groups of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exhibit a chronically activated hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the association of HPA axis activity and disease progression in MS is unknown. In this longitudinal study over a 3-year follow-up period, we report that patients who exhibited stronger HPA reactivity at baseline were significantly more likely to experience progression as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) during the follow-up period. Furthermore, HPA axis activity correlated with progression ratings and cognitive impairment three years later. Tests of HPA axis activity may be useful biomarkers for disease progression in MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. gold@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Stefan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Alaleh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raji
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huitinga
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heesen
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone