Erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in patients with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Reports on fatty acids levels in multiple sclerosis remain inconclusive.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid levels in multiple sclerosis patients and correlate with Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale.


METHODS
Fatty acid composition of 31 multiple sclerosis and 30 control individuals were measured by gas chromatography.


RESULTS
The membrane phosphatidylcholine C20:4n - 6 concentration was lower in the multiple sclerosis patients when compared to that of the control group, P = 0.04 and it correlated inversely with the EDSS and FSS.


CONCLUSIONS
Decrease in C20:4n - 6 in the erythrocyte membrane could be an indication of depleted plasma stores, and a reflection of disease severity.
Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, P O Box 1906, Bellville 7530, Cape Town, South Africa.
G M
GM
Hon
M S
MS
Hassan
S J
SJ
van Rensburg
S
S
Abel
D W
DW
Marais
P
P
van Jaarsveld
C M
CM
Smuts
F
F
Henning
R T
RT
Erasmus
T
T
Matsha
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000378:metabolism*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000378:metabolism*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D005227:Fatty Acids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines