Red blood cell glutathione peroxidase activity in multiple sclerosis

Summary Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of red blood cells of 23 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (10 men and 13 women, aged 22–64 years) was examined and compared to the enzyme activity of 26 healthy persons (15 men and 11 women, aged 19–50 years). It was found that the mean GSH-Px activity was significantly higher (P<0.001) in red blood cells of MS patients (39.1±8.1 IU/g Hb) as compared to the group of healthy persons (25.9±5.2 IU/g Hb). There was no difference according to sexes in both the MS patients and the control group. The results are discussed based on the hypothesis that organic peroxides play a role in the etiology of multiple sclerosis.     

Plasma and erythrocyte lipids in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The authors studied the changes of lipids of the plasma and erythrocytes in 10 cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and in 20 controls matched for age. In the plasma of patients with ALS increased levels were found of free cholesterol and triglycerides, with a decrease of lysophosphatidylcholine. The values of lipid fractions in erythrocyte membranes were not significantly different between these groups, with exception of increased level of total phospholipids (including phosphatidylethanolamine) and cholesterol.     

Changes in visual evoked potentials in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with isoprinosine and amantadine

We studied 30 patients with clinically definite MS according to the Mc Alpine et al. clinical criteria (20 patients received isoprinosine and 10 amantadine for a period of 12 months). In each patient pattern reversal stimulation was presented to each eye successively and potentials were recorded over both occipital lobes. For each condition the average evoked response to 200 pattern reversals was computed on DISA 2000. During the 24 month-lasting observation high clinical improvement and simultaneous shortening of the latency to peak of the first major positive component of the response in visual evoked potentials was observed in 12 cases with relapsing form treated 12 months with isoprinosine. In 3 cases, despite of the treatment with isoprinosine, new relapses were observed; in these patients delayed response in VEP was observed. In cases treated with amantadine no shortening of the latency to the major positive peak of the potential was observed, also no diminish of relapses frequency was observed.     

Evaluation of efficacy,safety and tolerability of fingolimod in patients with the relapsing form of multiple sclerosis – 12-month observation. A preliminary report

Background and purposeOral fingolimod 0.5 mg daily was approved in the European Union in 2011 for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis in the aggressive form and as a second line treatment in patients with high disease activity despite interferon beta therapy. The aim of this study was the evaluation of efficacy, safety and tolerance of fingolimod in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) during a 12-month observation period.Material and methodsThe investigated group consisted of 11 patients aged between 23 and 63 years. All patients underwent immunomodulatory treatment (disease modifying drugs – DMD) or immunomodulatory treatment in combination with mitoxantrone (Mx) without a positive effect for 3–5 years. Patients received oral fingolimod 0.5 mg daily during 12 months. Disability was evaluated with Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scale. Safety and tolerability of fingolimod were evaluated by adverse events monitoring, laboratory tests, and ophthalmological and skin assessment.ResultsBefore the initiation of fingolimod treatment all the patients progressed in disability and in MRI changes including five cases with gadolinium-enhancing lesions. During fingolimod treatment there was no new relapse in any patient and no patient stopped the treatment because of any adverse event. During the 12-month treatment, EDSS improvement was observed in seven patients, three patients were stable, and one patient progressed by 0.5 point in the EDSS.ConclusionsIn our study patients fingolimod was effective, safe and well tolerated independently of disease activity and previous treatment.     

Adherence of peripheral blood neutrophils in patients with multiple sclerosis treated with ACTH. Preliminary report

The authors studied the adherence of peripheral blood neutrophils in 15 patients with multiple sclerosis treated with ACTH. Increased adherence was found only in the whole population of white blood cells and immature precursors of granulocytes and polymorphonuclears but not in lymphocytes and eosinophils. Administration of ACTH caused a statistically not significant decrease of the adherence of various forms of white blood cells.     

Demyelinating lesions in cervical spinal cord and disability in multiple sclerosis patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions appear both in brain and cervical cord. The aim of this study was to estimate the presence of MRI changes in cervical cord depending on the course, duration of the disease and a disability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical measures included 66 patients suffering from MS, the diagnosis was made according to McDonald's criteria. Patients were aged from 18 to 62 (41 women and 25 men). RESULTS: In patients with relapsing-remitting form (EDSS 1-4) single lesions were seen whereas secondary progressive patients (EDSS 3-7) had diffuse demyelinating lesions and primary progressive patients (EDSS 4-8)--both kinds of changes. It has been shown that the lesions occurred as the disease proceeds. Patients without demyelinating lesions in cervical cord had EDSS from 1 to 3 and the duration of their disease was longer than 10 years (benign MS). CONCLUSIONS: The duration of the disease depends on the presence and character of demyelinating lesions in cervical cord to a large extent. That dependence was not noticed in a primary progressive form. In benign MS there were no lesions in cervical cord.     

Disorders of lipid metabolism in headaches of various etiologies

The authors studied the behaviour of various serum lipid fractions in 46 patients with headaches of various aetiology. No differences were found in the concentrations of various serum lipid fractions in the groups of patients with headaches, the only exception was kephalins. It was observed also that the concentration of total phospholipids and esterified cholesterol was significantly higher in all patients with headaches as compared with controls. Moreover, only in patients with migraine a statistically significant rise was observed in the concentrations of kephalins, total cholesterol and total lipids in relation to healthy subjects.     

Cerebrospinal fluid cAMP and cGMP in various peripheral and central nervous system diseases. Preliminary report

In a group of 51 patients the concentrations of cAMP and cGMP and their ratio were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid in certain neurological diseases. Statistically significant differences were found in the values of the concentrations of the above metabolites in selected groups of neurological diseases. Generally speaking, apart from a group of multiple sclerosis cases the values of cAMP concentration were higher in central nervous system diseases than in peripheral nervous system diseases. The highest values of the cAMP/cGMP ratio were observed in the group of patients with inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system. This method of cerebrospinal fluid examination may have an important role in the diagnosis of neurological diseases, particularly in multiple sclerosis.     

Demyelinating lesions in the cervical cord in multiple sclerosis 10 years after onset of the disease. Correlation between MRI parameters and clinical course

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Demyelinating lesions in spinal cord in multiple sclerosis (MS) are found in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 47-90% of patients; spinal cord atrophy, however, which is a measure of axonal loss and correlates with disability, is found in 13-41% of patients. Presence and character of lesions depend on the duration and progression of the disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the presence, character and location of lesions and cervical cord atrophy in MRI performed 10 years after the onset of MS in relation to the clinical course. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 patients (41 females and 19 males) with definite MS according to McDonald's criteria were studied. The age of patients ranged from 29 to 62 years and disease duration ranged from 11 to 40 years. The MS group comprised 20 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 20 patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS) and 20 patients with benign form of MS (BMS). Spinal cord MRI was performed in conventional T1 and T2-weighted sequences. RESULTS: Demyelinating lesions were found in 62% of patients (50% of patients with BMS, 60% with PPMS and 75% with SPMS). 42 intrinsic focal lesions were identified in 18 patients and diffuse lesions of spinal cord were noted in 19 patients. Focal lesions were seen in patients with BMS, whereas SPMS patients had diffuse cervical cord abnormalities, and PPMS patients exhibited both forms of changes. 60% of intrinsic focal lesions were located at C3-C5 levels. Medium-sized lesions prevailed in BMS form; in PPMS form small and medium-size lesions, and in SPMS form large lesions (>10 mm) were more frequent. The spinal cord was atrophic in 8% of patients (10% of patients with PPMS and 15% with SPMS). In BMS no atrophy of the cervical cord was observed. We did not find focal demyelinating lesions in the cervical segment of patients with spinal cord atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Presence and character of demyelinating lesions in cervical cord ten years after onset of MS is significantly related to the clinical form of the disease. The mid-cervical region of the spinal cord appeared to be the commonest location of the focal lesions. Cervical cord atrophy was more frequent in patients with PPMS and SPMS, but it was not accompanied with intrinsic focal cord lesions.