Coagulation status and biochemical and inflammatory markers in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and is the most common cause of neurologic disability in young adults. in this study, the coagulation status and biochemical and non-specific inflammatory markers in patients with MS were investigated. Plasma prothrombin time, activated partial thrombin time, fibrinogen, D-dimer, serum high sensitive C-reactive protein, homocysteine, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, calcium, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, vitamin B 12, folate levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured in 42 patients with MS and 31 healthy subjects as a control group. There was a positive correlation between homocysteine and D-dimer levels (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). However, there was no significant correlation between homocysteine, vitamin B12 (r = 0.18) and folate (r = 0.23) levels. Serum total protein, albumin and calcium levels of MS patients were lower than the control group. There are some alterations in the coagulation and biochemical status in MS patients. These findings may contribute to better understanding of the etiopathogenesis and clinical characteristics of this disease. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.