Study finds no link between neurological iron deposits and MS
Iron Deposits In BrainNormal CSF ferritin levels in MS suggest against etiologic role of chronic venous insufficiency
Objectives: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) has been suggested to be a possible cause of multiple sclerosis (MS). If the presumed mechanism of venous stasis–related parenchymal iron deposition and neurodegeneration were true, then upregulation of intrathecal iron transport proteins may be expected.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional (n = 1,408) and longitudinal (n = 29) study on CSF ferritin levels in patients with MS and a range of neurologic disorders.
Results: Pathologic (>12 ng/mL) CSF ferritin levels were observed in 4% of the control patients (median 4 ng/mL), 91% of patients with superficial siderosis (75 ng/mL), 73% of patients with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (59 ng/mL), 10% of patients with relapsing-remitting MS (5 ng/mL), 11% of patients with primary progressive MS (6 ng/mL), 23% of patients with secondary progressive MS (5 ng/mL), and 23% of patients with meningoencephalitis (5 ng/mL). In MS, there was no significant change of CSF ferritin levels over the 3-year follow-up period.
Conclusion: These data do not support an etiologic role for CCSVI-related parenchymal iron deposition in MS.
V. Worthington, PhD, J. Killestein, MD, PhD, M.J. Eikelenboom, MD, PhD, C.E. Teunissen, PhD, F. Barkhof, MD, PhD, C.H. Polman, MD, PhD, B.M.J. Uitdehaag, MD, PhD and A. Petzold, MD, PhD From the Department of Neuroimmunology (V.W., A.P.), UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK; and MS Center Amsterdam (J.K., M.J.E., C.E.T., F.B., C.H.P., B.M.J.U., A.P.), Free University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Source: Neurology (Neurology 2010, doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181fb449e) (05/10/10)
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