title: Cerebrospinal fluid and serum uric acid levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peroxynitrite was hypothesized to be involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) through its various neurotoxic effects. Uric acid (UA) was shown to be a strong peroxynitrite scavenger.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum UA concentrations in 30 MS patients and 20 controls with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND) and correlated these findings with demographic and clinical characteristics of MS patients. Disease activity was assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the CSF/serum albumin quotient as an indicator of the state of blood-brain-barrier (BBB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum UA concentrations were found to be significantly lower in MS patients compared with controls (p=0.019). CSF UA concentrations were lower in MS patients as compared to controls, as well as in patients with active MS (clinical and/or MRI activity) in comparison to patients with inactive MS or controls, but these differences were not statistically significant. Significant correlation was found between CSF and serum UA concentrations (p=0.016) in MS patients, but not in controls; and between CSF UA concentrations and the CSF/serum albumin quotient in MS patients (p=0.043), but not in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the significance of UA in the pathogenesis of MS. Decreased serum UA concentrations in MS patients might be due to both intrinsically reduced antioxidant capacity and increased UA consumption in MS. CSF UA concentrations may not be a reliable marker of disease activity in MS since its concentration is dependent on leakage of UA molecules from serum through the damaged BBB and the balance between consumption/production within the central nervous system (CNS).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. irdujm@EUnet.rs
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dujmovic
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pekmezovic
authors.forename: Radmila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Obrenovic
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikolić
authors.forename: Mihailo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spasic
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mostarica Stojkovic
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drulovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D011859:Radiography; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid