Evaluation of serum oxidant/antioxidant balance in multiple sclerosis.

The total oxidative status (TOS)/total anti-oxidative status (TAS) ratio can provide information on an individual's absolute oxidative stress index (OSI). We investigated the alterations in the oxidant-antioxidant balance by measuring the oxidant parameters OSI, TOS, and malondialdehyde (MDA) together with the antioxidant parameters such as TAS, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate OSI in patients with relapsing remitting MS. 35 ambulatory patients with relapsing-remitting MS (35.8 ± 8.7 years) and 32 age- and activity-matched healthy control subjects (35.1 ± 3.7 years) that participated in the study. Serum TAS and TOS levels were determined using new automated methods. MS patients had higher concentrations of MDA (151.5 ± 51.1 vs. 111.3 ± 27.4 nmol/g protein, respectively; p < 0.001), TOS (148.1 ± 162.5 vs. 48.3 ± 46.4 mmol H(2)O(2) Equiv./g protein, respectively; p = 0.002), OSI (21124 ± 32543 vs. 5294 ± 5562, respectively; p = 0.008), and SOD (4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 3.4 ± 0.6 U/L, respectively; p < 0.001) compared with healthy controls. On the other hand, MS patients had lower concentrations of NO (12.3 ± 6.9 vs. 17.4 ± 2.5 µmol/g protein, respectively; p < 0.001) and TAS (0.82 ± 0.27 vs. 0.26 ± 0.15, respectively; p = 0.011) compared with healthy controls. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of MS.

Serum cytokine and pro-brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with migraine.

OBJECTIVE: Although migraine has been related with an increased risk for ischemic stroke and cardiovascular events, there is insufficient data for role of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP) in migraine. In present case-control study, serum levels of pro-inflammatory (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, and IL-10) of migraine patients were investigated to determine the role of cytokines and pro-BNP in migraine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-four consecutive newly diagnosed migraine patients and 34 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and pro-BNP levels were measured by using a chemiluminescence assay. RESULTS: Migraine patients had significantly higher concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-6 compared with the healthy controls (for IL-1beta; 5.73 +/- 1.44 vs. 4.90 +/- 1.40 pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.006; for IL-6; 3.1 +/- 1.44 vs. 2.40 +/- 0.22 pg/mL, respectively, p = 0.007). The mean IL-10 levels were found to be significantly lower in migraine patients (3.38 +/- 2.93 pg/mL) than controls (6.76 +/- 1.48 pg/mL) (p = 0.007). There were no differences in TNF-alpha (27.2 +/- 48.1 vs. 15.4 +/- 0.7) and IL-2 (1017 +/- 661 vs. 1153 +/- 228) levels between patients with migraine and healthy controls. Migraine patients had higher concentrations of pro-BNP compared with healthy controls (27.0 +/- 28.0 versus 13.2 +/- 8.6, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Migraine patients have higher serum IL-1beta and IL-6 levels, and lower IL-10 levels than healthy subjects. These findings support that cytokines may be related to neurogenic inflammation in the pathogenesis of migraine. Also, increased pro-BNP may indicate to preclinical cardiac involvement in patients with migraine.