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Uric acid in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: a 2-year longitudinal study

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Abstract

Uric acid (UA) is reduced in multiple sclerosis (MS), and possibly relates to MS outcomes, with lower UA levels in subjects experiencing a relapse or presenting higher disability scores. The present retrospective longitudinal study evaluated UA variations in MS, in relation to clinical relapses, disability progression, and cognitive functions. We included 141 subjects with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) and performed expanded disability status scale (EDSS), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and UA evaluation at baseline visit and after 2-year follow-up. Paired t test showed significantly lower UA levels after 2-year follow-up than at baseline (3.987 ± 1.135 and 4.167 ± 1.207 mg/dL, respectively) (p = 0.001). The difference in UA levels between 2-year follow-up and baseline related to EDSS sustained progression (p < 0.001; OR = 0.099), and presented a trend for clinical relapses at logistic regression (p = 0.211; OR = 0.711) and for the time to relapse at Cox regression (p = 0.236; HR = 0.792). Analysis of variance showed reduced baseline UA levels in subjects with impaired SDMT at baseline (p = 0.045; adjusted R 2 = 0.473) and after 2-year follow-up (p = 0.034; adjusted R 2 = 0.470). This is the first study showing a progressive reduction of UA levels during the course of RRMS, suggesting a progressive decrease of antioxidant reserves, in relation to relapse risk, disability progression and cognitive function.

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Acknowledgments

The present study received no specific funding.

Conflicts of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest in relation to the current work.

Ethical standard

The present study received approval from the local ethics committee and has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. All patients gave appropriate informed consent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

    Marcello Moccia, Roberta Lanzillo, Teresa Costabile, Cinzia Russo, Antonio Carotenuto, Gabriella Sasso, Emanuela Postiglione, Carla De Luca Picione, Michele Vastola, Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco & Vincenzo Brescia Morra

  2. Clinic of Neurology, AORN “Antonio Cardarelli”, Naples, Italy

    Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco

  3. Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK

    Raffaele Palladino

  4. Department of Public Health, Federico II University, Naples, Italy

    Raffaele Palladino

Authors
  1. Marcello Moccia
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  2. Roberta Lanzillo
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  3. Teresa Costabile
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  4. Cinzia Russo
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  5. Antonio Carotenuto
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  6. Gabriella Sasso
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  7. Emanuela Postiglione
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  8. Carla De Luca Picione
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  9. Michele Vastola
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  10. Giorgia Teresa Maniscalco
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  11. Raffaele Palladino
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  12. Vincenzo Brescia Morra
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Correspondence to Roberta Lanzillo.

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Moccia, M., Lanzillo, R., Costabile, T. et al. Uric acid in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis: a 2-year longitudinal study. J Neurol 262, 961–967 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7666-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-015-7666-y

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