Predictors of quality of life among patients with multiple sclerosis: an Italian cross-sectional study

The Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) quality of life (QoL) instrument is a disease-specific, self-report questionnaire that was developed originally for US English-speaking patients. Here, the psychometric properties of the FAMS QoL questionnaire for Italian-speaking patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are evaluated and compared with the results from the original FAMS validation survey (n=377). Eighteen Italian centers and 344 patients with MS participated in the study. The overall reliability (as expressed by Cronbach's alpha value) of the FAMS score, and its subscale scores, was always over the threshold of 0.8. Patients with benign MS showed a better overall QoL compared with patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS; p=0.017), whereas patients with RRMS had a better QoL than patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS). No difference in QoL was found between patients with PPMS and those with secondary progressive MS. The Italian FAMS questionnaire is a valid measure to assess the QoL concerns of patients with MS. FAMS is also easy to administer and is well accepted by patients.     

Deep gray matter perfusion in multiple sclerosis: dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T

OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence of perfusion abnormalities in the deep gray matter of patients with relapsing-remitting and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in comparison with healthy controls and to investigate the impact of perfusion impairment on clinical disability and fatigue. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Research-oriented hospital. Patients Twenty-two patients with MS and 11 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Intervention Absolute cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, and mean transit time were measured in the thalamus, putamen, and caudate nuclei. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Decrease of cerebral blood flow in the deep gray matter of patients with MS and correlation between perfusion impairment and the severity of fatigue. RESULTS: The cerebral blood flow value averaged over the thalamus, putamen, and caudate nuclei was significantly lower in patients with primary progressive MS (P<.001) and in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (P = .01) compared with controls, and there was a trend for patients with primary progressive MS to have lower average cerebral blood flow than patients with relapsing-remitting MS (P = .06). With respect to cerebral blood volume, there was a significant difference between patients with primary progressive MS and controls (P<.001) and between the 2 groups of patients (P = .03) but not between patients with relapsing-remitting MS and controls (P>.30). The fatigue score was significantly correlated with cerebral blood flow (r = 0.4; P<.001) and cerebral blood volume (r = 0.5; P = .004). CONCLUSION: The decrease of tissue perfusion in the deep gray matter of patients with MS is associated with the severity of fatigue.     

Pain in the course of multiple sclerosis

According to previous studies pain symptoms were a problem in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This is an important issue since symptom control, especially pain, assume high priorities in MS. The aim of study was to assess the incidence and type of pain symptoms in MS. In the study 104 consecutive patients with clinically definite MS, according to Posers criteria, were evaluated by questionnaire. In all patients brain MRI strongly suggested MS. 76% of patients had relapsing-remitting (RR) course of the disease. At any stage of the disease pain syndromes occurred in 70.2% of MS patients. In 8% patients pain was the first symptom of MS. The most common acute pain syndromes were: Lhermitte sign (26%) and painful tonic spasm (19%). The incidence of migraine was 8% and 26% had tension headache. Chronic pain occurred in 60% of MS patients. Most common were dysaesthetic extremity pain (45%), low back pain (34%) and painful leg spasm (22%). There was no correlation with age, sex, and duration of disease. Pain symptoms were more frequent in MS patients with higher EDSS score and spinal cord involvement. Pain syndromes are common in MS patients. There was no correlation with age, sex, and duration of the disease. Pain occurred more frequent in MS patients with higher EDSS score and in patients with spinal cord involvement.     

多发性硬化、临床孤立综合征患者脑脊液β-淀粉样肽水平及其意义研究

目的 探讨多发性硬化(MS)及其早期表现-临床孤立综合征(CIS)患者脑脊液β-淀粉样肽(Aβ42)表达水平及其与病程、神经功能缺失以及MRI T2高信号病灶数量的关系.方法 对33例MS患者、23例CIS患者及13例对照者进行研究,MS、CIS患者发作期进行扩展残疾状态量表(EDSS)评分及MRI检查,采用液相芯片分析技术检测各组患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度.结果 MS、CIS患者发作期脑脊液Aβ42浓度与对照组相比差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但继发进展型MS(SPMS)患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度[(167.99±36.39)pg/mL]比复发缓解型MS(RRMS)患者[(92.74±13.64)pg/mL]高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.042).MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度与病程及EDSS评分无明显相关性(P>0.05).病程≥1年的MS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度比病程<1年的患者低,EDSS评分≥4.5分的MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度比EDSS评分<4.5分的患者低,但差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05).MS、CIS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度与MRI T2高信号病灶数量呈正相关关系(MS患者:r=0.507.P=0.038;CIS患者:r=0.485,P=0.049).MRI T2高信号病灶总数≥4个的MS患者脑脊液Aβ42浓度[(129.34±19.96)pg/mL]比病灶总数<4个的MS患者[(73.51±12.60)pg/mL]高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.049).结论 SPMS患者轴突损伤比RRMS患者严重;脑脊液Aβ42水平升高可能是MS病情进展的标记之一;MRI T2高信号病灶负荷可能与MS轴突损伤有关.     

The Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery in the study of cognition in different multiple sclerosis phenotypes: application of normative data in a Serbian population

Cognitive impairment is prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS) occurring in 43–72 % of patients with all MS phenotypes. The aim of our study was to assess cognitive performance in different MS subtypes in Serbian population. Rao’s Brief Repeatable Battery of neuropsychological tests (BRB-N) was administered to 168 MS patients [37 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of MS, 65 with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 31 with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) and 35 patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS)]. The percentage of cognitively impaired patients in our total MS cohort was 58.9 %. Prevalence of cognitive dysfunction was 40.5 % in CIS group, 36.9 % in RRMS, 96.8 % in SPMS, and 85.7 % in PPMS group. Patients in CIS and RRMS groups performed consistently better all tests of the Rao’s battery than patients in SPMS and PPMS cohort. CIS and RRMS groups performed consistently better in all tests of the Rao’s battery than SPMS and PPMS cohort. Additionally, difference in the performance of any of the BRB-N tests was not found between CIS and RRMS. However, there was a significant difference between SPMS and PPMS patients in the performance on five tests of Rao’s battery. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) in favor of PPMS patients was demonstrated for the following tasks: SRT_lts, SRT_cltr, SDMT, SRT_D, SPART_D. Our study demonstrates that cognitive impairment is frequent in all MS phenotypes. Furthermore, we have found that cognitive deficit is most severe and most frequent in SPMS patients, followed by PPMS subjects and then CIS and RRMS patients.     

多发性硬化病人血清和脑脊液壳三糖苷酶活性的研究

目的探讨多发性硬化(MS)病人血清和脑脊液(CSF)壳三糖苷酶(CTTS)活性以及CSF免疫活化和炎症标志物。方法选择三所医院178例MS病人,其中复发缓解型MS(RRMS)120例,继发进展型MS(SPMS)32例,原发进展型MS(PPMS)26例,并选取40例其他神经疾患(OND)和30非神经疾患病人作为对照组,检测血清和CSF中CTTS活性及CSF单核细胞数(MNC)和鞘内IgG产物。结果 MS病人与OND组和对照组比较,CSF中CTTS活性明显升高,但血清不升高。RRMS和SPMS组CTTS指数高于对照组,但PPMS组正常。在伴有MNC升高或CSF寡克隆IgG区带的MS病人,CTTS指数高于无此表现者。结论 RRMS和SPMS病人CCTS指数升高,CCTS指数与CSF炎症或免疫活化标志物有关。     

多发性硬化患者血清尿酸水平变化的研究

目的　探讨多发性硬化 (MS)患者血清尿酸 (UA)水平的变化及其临床意义。方法　采用酶定量分析法对 4 3例MS患者和 4 5名正常对照者的血清UA水平进行检测。结果　MS组血清UA水平明显低于对照组 (P <0 0 1)。MS组中病程越长 (P <0 0 1)、神经伤残程度越重 (DSS评分越高 ) (P <0 0 5 ) ,血清UA水平越低 ;女性患者UA水平明显低于男性患者 (P <0 0 0 1) ;经过糖皮质激素治疗后血清UA水平明显回升 (P <0 0 0 1) ,但治疗前血清UA水平越低则疗效越差 (P <0 0 1、P <0 0 5 )。结论　MS患者血清UA水平降低 ,且与MS的病程、伤残程度、疗效及性别密切相关。UA水平升高可能为激素治疗MS的一个作用机制     

Long-term effect of IFN-beta 1a therapy on CCL2 (MCP-1) chemokine in patients with multiple sclerosis

Chemokines play an important role in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), mediating migration of leukocytes into the central nervous system. CCL2 (MCP-1) chemokine is expressed in astrocytes in MS lesions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a two-year treatment with IFN-beta 1a on serum CCL2 level in MS patients. CCL2 concentration in sera of 18 relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) patients, and of 16 healthy controls was measured by ELISA. MS patients were treated with interferon-beta 1a (Avonex) in a dose of 30 microg i.m. once weekly. Significantly lower serum CCL2 level was found in MS patients in comparison with results of the control group. CCL2 concentration increased significantly after one year of therapy with IFN-beta, and remained high after the two-year treatment. The therapy of relapsing-remitting MS patients with interferon beta 1a is associated with a significant increase in CCL2 serum concentration.     

First hospital-admission rate as an epidemidogical indicator for patients with multiple sclerosis in Stockholm, 1984–1993

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the first hospital-admission patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: By using the data from hospital discharge registry of MS diagnosis in Stockholm during 1984-1993, we calculated rates of first hospital-admission patients with MS in the population and evaluated the temporal trend of the rates during the study period. RESULTS: There were 719 first hospital-admission patients with MS corresponding to 1556 admissions. The mean age at the first admission was nearly the same for male patients (44.3 years, SD: 12.9) and for female patients (44.6 years, SD: 13.7). The mean annual rate of first hospital-admission patients with MS was 4.46 per 100,000 person-years. The sex rate ratio of first hospital-admission patients with MS between females and males was 2.19:1. CONCLUSION: The first hospital-admission rate of MS could be used as an epidemiological indicator which is useful in planning of hospital service for MS patients.     

Intrathecal production of Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific high-affinity antibodies is significantly associated to a subset of multiple sclerosis patients with progressive forms

The purpose of this study was to provide further insight into the effective relevance of the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and MS. We evaluated by ELISA technique cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum levels of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG in 46 relapsing-remitting (RR), 14 secondary progressive (SP) and 11 primary progressive (PP) MS patients grouped according to clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evidence of disease activity. Fifty-one patients with other inflammatory neurological disorders (OIND) and 52 with non-inflammatory neurological disorders (NIND) were used as controls. A C. pneumoniae-specific intrathecal IgG synthesis as detected by the relative specific index was present in a small proportion of MS (17%), OIND (22%) and NIND (2%) patients and was significantly more frequent in MS and in OIND than in NIND (p<0.001) and in SP and PP MS than in RR MS patients (p<0.02). Among the patients with C. pneumoniae-specific intratecally produced antibodies, CSF high-affinity anti-C. pneumoniae IgG were found in the majority of SP or PP MS, occasionally in OIND, but not in RR MS and NIND patients. These findings confirm that the presence of a humoral immune response to C. pneumoniae within the central nervous system (CNS) is not selectively restricted to MS, but is shared by several inflammatory neurological conditions. In addition, our results suggest that an intrathecal production of C. pneumoniae-specific high-affinity IgG can occur in a subset of patients with MS progressive forms in which a C. pneumoniae brain chronic persistent infection may play an important pathogenetic role.     

Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1 in the CSF and sera of patients with multiple sclerosis

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 31 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were examined to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-1 alpha (or IL-1 beta) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TNF was detected in 29 (93.5%) of CSF from 31 cases of MS. TNF was also detectable in 100% of CSF from patients with acute relapsing MS in exacerbation. Patients with acute relapsing MS in exacerbation showed significantly higher CSF levels of TNF as compared with either those in remission or the controls (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.0001, respectively). Increased levels of TNF were also detected in 35.5% of the MS sera, and especially in those with acute relapsing MS in exacerbation. Increased TNF levels were also frequent in the CSF and sera of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which is also a demyelinating disease. No IL-1 alpha (or IL-1 beta) was detected in either CSF or sera of 31 MS patients. It is considered likely that TNF CSF levels may reflect disease activity in MS.     

Patterns of dietary and herbal supplement use by multiple sclerosis patients

To assess the patterns of dietary (DS) and herbal supplement (HS) use in MS patients, compare use between MS patients and healthy controls and to identify potential interactions with drugs used to treat MS. This study included 279 MS subjects and 161 controls from a study of risk factors in MS. All patients received a neurological examination. All subjects provided responses to a standardized questionnaire administered during an in-person interview. A larger proportion of MS patients (82.1%) compared to controls (60.1%) used one or more DS regularly for at least 3 months (p < 0.001). There was a trend toward a higher proportion of MS patients (26.6%) versus controls (17.8%) who used HSs for more than 1 month (p = 0.038). The most common DS used after MS onset was a multivitamin (78.1%), followed by vitamin D (65.8%). Use of the majority of specific DSs increased significantly after MS onset compared to before. The proportion of controls and MS patients after MS onset who reported using an individual HS was generally similar. The most commonly used HS in patients after MS was evening primrose oil (40.4%) followed by cranberry fruit extract (35.2%). There was no evidence for associations with progressive disease course or with choice of disease-modifying treatment. Dietary supplements are used more frequently by MS patients than controls. Use tends to increase after MS onset compared to before, especially for DS. The use of HS by MS patients is only modestly greater than by controls.     

多发性硬化患者外周血单个核细胞转录因子Sp3基因的缺陷表达

目的：研究我国多发性硬化（MS）病人外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）转录因子Sp3基因表达情况及其与临床相关性。方法：采用反转录－聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）技术，经2对引物扩增，检测了33例MS、30例非免疫 性其他神经系统疾病对照、30例神经系统其他自身免疫性疾病对照和30名健康对照组者PBMC的Sp3基因表达。结果：Sp3基因表达缺如，MS患者组（45％，15／33）明显高于其他3组（依次为16％，5／30，6％，2／30；10％，3／10，P均（＜0．01），可自Sp3表达阴性MS患者的DNA中扩增出相应Sp3片段。Sp3表达阴性MS患者改良的伤残状态量表（EDSS）评分显著高于表达阳性者。脑脊液的IgG24h合成率和血清可溶性白细胞介素－2受全稍高，4例MS患者治疗前病情重和治疗后病情轻时相比，未见其Sp3基因表达有明显变化。结果：汉 MS病人PBMC中有Sp3表达缺陷，Sp3阴性患者残疾程度和免疫功能紊乱程度明显高于阳性者，作 为转录调节因子Sp3的表达缺乏可能与免疫控制的异常启动有关。     

High prevalence of restless legs syndrome in multiple sclerosis

Despite the fact that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients often include leg restlessness as a sensory symptom, MS is not mentioned amongst symptomatic restless legs syndrome (RLS) forms. The aim of this study was to estimate RLS prevalence in a large population of MS patients, comparing clinical and MRI findings between patients with and without RLS. Each of the 156 MS patients (100 females, 56 males, mean age 40.7 ± 10.4) enrolled in a prospective study underwent a medical history interview, a neurological examination with the assessment of the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and a structured questionnaire to verify the presence and features of RLS. Conventional brain–spinal MRIs of 99 subjects were also evaluated and compared between patients with and without RLS. Fifty-one subjects (32.7%) (mean age 43.8 ± 12.8) met the criteria for RLS. In a few patients (8.5%), the RLS preceded clinical MS onset, whilst in the remaining cases the RLS was followed by or was simultaneous with clinical MS onset. Comparing the RLS group with the group without RLS, no significant differences were found in MS duration, gender, and referred sleep habits. The primary progressive MS course was more represented in the RLS group, which also showed a higher EDSS score. RLS is a very common finding in MS patients and should be considered amongst the symptomatic RLS forms. RLS is also associated with higher disability.     

多发性硬化患者血清性激素水平变化及其意义

目的:探讨多发性硬化(MS)患者血清性激素(E2,TSTO)水平的变化及其临床意义。方法:采用放射免疫法对31例活动期MS患者、22例缓解期MS患者和40例健康对照者的血清性激素水平进行检测。结果:活动期MS患者血清雌二醇(E2)水平显著高于缓解期MS患者和对照组(P<0.01),而睾酮(TST0)水平明显降低(P<0.01);经过糖皮质激素治疗后活动期MS患者血清E2水平明显升高(P<0.01),TST0水平降低(P<0.01),且血清性激素水平变化与疗效相关。结论:活动期MS患者血清性激素水平紊乱。雌激素水平升高可能与MS的活动性相关,适当的雄激素替代治疗可能对MS有益。     

Is Devic's neuromyelitis optica a separate disease? A comparative study with multiple sclerosis

Devic's neuromyelitis optica (NMO) associates optic neuritis and myelopathy without other neurological signs. Many patients with NMO may be diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there have been no previous studies comparing these two pathologies and it is still unclear if NMO is a separate entity or a subtype of MS. In the present study, we compared a series of NMO patients with a series of MS patients for whom optic neuritis or myelopathy was the presenting symptom, in order to determine the place of NMO in the spectrum of MS. We retrospectively studied 30 patients diagnosed with NMO and we compared these patients with 50 consecutive MS cases revealed by optic neuritis or acute myelopathy. MS patients were only included if a relapse occurred demonstrating time and space dissemination. We compared the two groups in terms of clinical presentation, laboratory findings (MRI and CSF) and clinical outcome. NMO patients were older and more frequently women than MS patients but the difference was not significant. CSF and MRI data were clearly different: oligoclonal bands (OCB) were found in 23% of NMO cases and 88% of MS (P < 0.001), abnormal brain MRI data were observed in 10% of NMO cases and 66% of MS (P < 0.001) and a large spinal cord lesion was observed in 67% of NMO cases and 7.4% of MS cases (P < 0.001). Clinical outcome was evaluated as more severe in the NMO group (P < 0.001). On the basis of clinical data, all NMO patients but three had dissemination in time and space. When we included MRI parameters, only two of the NMO patients met criteria for MS and one of the MS patients met criteria for NMO. Our study demonstrates that NMO and MS should be considered as two different entities. The respective criteria for NMO and MS were able to distinguish these two pathologies but only when MRI data were applied. This finding could have implications for future therapeutic trials.     

等电聚焦电泳联合免疫印迹法检测寡克隆区带诊断神经系统炎性脱髓鞘疾病

目的 探讨等电聚焦电泳(IEF)联合免疫印迹法检测寡克隆区带(OB)在神经系统炎性脱髓鞘疾病(IDD)中的应用.方法 IEF联合免疫印迹法检测112例IDD及24例神经系统非炎性疾病(NIND)患者血清和脑脊液中OB,并进行对比分析.结果 与视神经脊髓炎(5/21,23.8%,x2=32.679)、急性播散性脑脊髓炎(1/4,Fisher精确检验)、系统性自身免疫病继发中枢神经系统IDD(3/19,15.8%,x2=37.425)、周围神经系统IDD(0,x2=51.944)和NIND(0,x2=51.944)患者比较,多发性硬化(MS)患者脑脊液OB阳性率(44/46,91.7%)显著升高(P＜0.01).IEF联合免疫印迹法检测OB诊断MS的敏感度为91.7%,特异度为89.8%,高于其他检测方法.2例急性播散性脑脊髓炎患者和1例MS患者血清和脑脊液OB有相同条带,呈"镜像分布".结论 IEF联合免疫印迹法检测OB在MS诊断中具有一定的临床价值.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of oligoclonal band (OB) detected by isoelectric focusing (IEF) with immunoblotting in inflammatory demyelinating diseases (IDD) in nervous system.Methods Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) OB was detected by IEF with immunoblotting in 112 patients with IDD ( multiple sclerosis ( MS):n = 48;neuromyelitis optica ( NMO):n = 21:acute disseminated encephalomyelitis ( ADEM):n = 4;secondary IDD from systemic autoimmune diseases:n = 19;peripheral nervous system IDD:n =20) and 24 patients with non-inflammatory neurological disease (NIND).Results CSF-restricted OB was detected in 91.7% (44/48) of MS patients,23.8% (5/21) of NMO patients(x2nmO vs MS= 32.679),1/4 of ADEM patients (Fisher' s excact test),15.8% (3/19) of secondary IDD patients (x2secondary IDD vs MS = 37.425 ),0 of peripheral nervous system IDD patients (x2peripheral nervous system IDD vs MS =37.425) and 0 of NIND patients (x2NIND vs MS =37.425).MS patients had significantly higher percentage of patients with CSF-restricted OB ( all P ＜0.01),compared with NIND and other IDD patients.The sensitivity and specificity of OB detected by IEF with immunoblotting for MS were 91.7% and 89.8%,which were higher than that of OB detected by other methods.Identical serum and CSF OB ( "mirror pattern" ) was detected in 2 of 4 ADEM patients and 1 of 48 MS patients.Conclusion IEF with immunoblotting to detect OB is a reliable method of diagnosis for MS.     

Increased lymphoproliferative response to human herpesvirus type 6A variant in multiple sclerosis patients

Several reports have suggested an association of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and multiple sclerosis (MS) based on immunohistochemical demonstration of HHV-6 antigens in inflammatory lesions, detection of increased HHV-6 specific serum antibody titers, and amplification of HHV-6 DNA from sera and cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients but not in controls. Characterization of the cellular immune response of MS patients to HHV-6 may further clarify the role of HHV-6 in MS and provide insight into the pathogenesis of this immune-mediated disease. We have compared lymphoproliferative responses to HHV-6A (U1102)-, HHV-6B (Z29)-, and HHV-7 (H7SB)-infected cell lysates in healthy controls and patients with MS. Most healthy controls (71%) proliferated to HHV-6B lysate, and fewer (33%) responded to the HHV-6A lysate. In contrast, 67% of MS patients had a lymphoproliferative response to HHV-6A, which is a significant increase in comparison with healthy controls. A similar frequency of lymphoproliferative response (78%) to HHV-6B was demonstrated in MS patients. Lymphoproliferation to HHV-7 lysate was demonstrated in 23% of healthy controls and 28% of MS patients. These results indicate that the lymphoproliferative response to the HHV-6A variant, which was recently reported to have greater neurotropism, is increased in MS patients.     

High β-adrenoceptor density on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in progressive multiple sclerosis: a manifestation of autonomic dysfunction?

In multiple sclerosis (MS) up-regulation of β-adrenoceptors on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been attributed to either autonomic dysfunction, inflammation or a combination of the two. We have compared secondary progressive MS patients with normal subjects (NS) and two models of autonomic dysfunction; pure autonomic failure (PAF) and multiple system atrophy (MSA, Shy-Drager syndrome). There was up-regulation of β-adrenoceptors on PBMCs in MS and PAF patients but not in MSA patients. Only in PAF patients β-adrenoceptor up-regulation was correlated with low plasma levels of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (Ad). In addition to studies in the basal state, measurements also were made after the centrally acting sympatholytic agent clonidine. These were combined with haemodynamic and neurohormonal measurements. After clonidine, there was a fall in blood pressure in NS and MSA patients but not in MS and PAF patients; a rise in growth hormone (GH) in NS and PAF patients but not in MS and MSA patients; and an up-regulation in PBMCs β-adrenoceptors in NS but not in MS, MSA and PAF patients. Up-regulation of β-adrenoceptors on PBMCs in MS could be attributed to autonomic dysfunction but the disparity between MS and PAF patients when considering their plasma levels of NA and Ad argue against. Although the neurohormonal responses to clonidine and the physiological assessment of autonomic function in progressive MS patients, demonstrate central autonomic dysfunction resembling that of the MSA patients, the normal basal β-adrenoceptor densities in the latter, suggests that the up-regulation of these receptors is independent of the central autonomic dysfunction in MS.