Serum Nitric Oxide, Homocystein, Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels In Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune-neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. It is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process. The nature of MS, continuing with demyelination and remyelination, axonal and neuronal damage, has not been enlightened precisely. The oxidative stress plays role in the pathophysiology of MS. Along with this; the role of agents such as nitric oxide (NO), homocystein (HCY), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been researched. In this study, we aimed to compare patients of relapsing remitting MS with healthy controls by measuring NO, HCY, ADMA levels. 43 MS patients of whom are 28 females and 15 males along with 18 healthy female, 11 healthy male volunteers with the same age group have been included to the study. Their serum HCY levels have been measured with chromsystem kit ( fluorescence detector) and their serum ADMA levels have been measured with HPLC technic by using the method described by Chen and his friends. The NO measurement has been realized by using kit (level no: 1 756 281). The SPSS 16.0 package program has been used for the statistical analysis of acquired data. While the averages of serum ADMA level have been found lower than their controls among MS patients, the HCY and NO averages have been obtained higher than their controls. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). A meaningful correlation cannot be obtained between the period of disease and disability score (EDSS) along with the ADMA, NO, HCY averages, either. It has been thought that the research of these parameters among patients with various form and phases of MS, especially in the acute attack periods, might be indicative in terms of treatment strategies in future.