title: Biomarkers in multiple sclerosis: an update for 2014.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, demyelinating and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that mainly affects young adults. It is characterised by processes involving inflammation, demyelination and axonal destruction, and as a result the pathogenic aspects and response to treatment of the disease vary widely. It is therefore difficult to establish a prognosis for these patients or to determine the effectiveness of the different drugs that are employed. Current clinical research into the development of new biomarkers has advanced a great deal in recent years, especially in the early stages of the disease. Yet, it is essential to further our knowledge about novel markers of the disease, and not only in the more advanced stages, so as to be able to stop disability from progressing and to establish new therapy regimens in these patients. This review presents an update on the information available about the biomarkers that are currently validated and used in multiple sclerosis, together with the possible candidates for utilisation in routine clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Fundacion IMABIS, Hospital Universitario Carlos Haya, 29190 Malaga, Espana.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovira
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Llufriu
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vidal-Jordana
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Sanchez
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Cermeno
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arroyo-Gonzalez
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Antiguedad
authors.forename: Bonaventura
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Casanova-Estruch
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montalban
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009929:Organ Size; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands