Decreased vitamin B12 and folate levels in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of multiple sclerosis patients after high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone

Twenty-one patients (15 women, 6 men) with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) were treated with 1000 mg intravenous methylprednisolone-succinate (MP) daily for 10 days. Before MP treatment there was a negative correlation (r = 0.59,P = 0.0084) between serum vitamin B₁₂ and progression rate, defined as the ratio of the score on Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale and disease duration. A significant decrease was demonstrated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum levels of folate and in the CSF level of Viamin B12 after MP treatment. The decrease in serum B12 was not statistically significant. After MP treatment all median levels of vitamin B₁₂ and folate were below the reference medians. We hypothesize that low or reduced vitamin B₁₂/folate levels found in MS patients may be related to previous corticosteroid treatments. Otherwise a more causal relationship between low Viamin B₁₂/folate and MS cannot be excluded. Further studies may be required to clarify the vitamin B₁₂ and folate metabolism in patients with MS.