Dietary patterns in clinical subtypes of multiple sclerosis: an exploratory study.

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disorder with a wide range in disease course severity. Many factors seem to be implicated in multiple sclerosis disease course, and diet has been suggested to play a role. Because limited data is present in the literature it was investigated whether variations in dietary intake may be related to the severity of the disease course in multiple sclerosis.

Relationship between the extent of T2 lesions and the onset of secondary progression in multiple sclerosis.

Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) are at risk of converting to a secondary progressive disease course. To assess the relationship between brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and onset of secondary progression, we reanalyzed the initial brain MRI scans of 90 relapsing-remitting MS patients, who were clinically followed up for at least 10 years (median 14 years) after their scan, for the number and volume of T2 lesions, and for two measures of brain atrophy (bicaudate ratio and third ventricle width). The relationship to development of secondary progression was studied with Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses.

Predictive value of clinical characteristics for 'benign' multiple sclerosis.

We studied a cohort of 496 patients who had multiple sclerosis (MS) for at least 10 years. Ten years after disease onset, 151 had benign MS defined as an Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) < or =3. Between benign and non-benign patients we compared gender, age at clinical onset, relapsing-remitting or primary progressive, symptoms at onset, recovery from first relapse, time between first and second relapse, number of relapses in the first 5 years, use of immunomodulatory drugs, and EDSS scores at 2, 5 and 10 years.

Benign course in multiple sclerosis: a review.

Since the 1950s, it has been recognized that a subgroup of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exists that shows little or no progression in the severity of the disease over time. This group is referred to as 'benign' MS. Although a substantial amount of research in MS indicates a multifactorial background in disease severity, to date it is still difficult to predict whether the course will be benign at onset and it is difficult to find factors that influence the course of the disease over time.

Erythrocyte membrane fatty acids in benign and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis.

Background: There is no good explanation why a proportion of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a relatively benign form of the disease. An imbalance between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (FA) might influence the disease course of MS.

Aim: To assess whether the erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition, which is a biological marker of long term dietary FA consumption, is different between patients with benign and progressive MS.

Plasma homocysteine levels in multiple sclerosis.

Background: There is evidence that homocysteine contributes to various neurodegenerative disorders, and elevated plasma homocysteine levels have been observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To investigate if and why plasma homocysteine levels are increased in MS, and whether they play a role in the disease course.

Methods: We compared plasma levels of homocysteine in 88 patients with MS and 57 healthy controls.

Oxidative stress in serum and peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with different disease courses of multiple sclerosis.

Background: The role of oxidative stress in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood.

Objective: To investigate oxidative stress in serum and peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with different disease courses of MS.

Methods: Diene conjugate (DC) levels (a measure of lipid peroxidation), total antioxidative activity (AOA) and total antiradical activity (ARA) were measured in serum and peripheral blood leukocytes from 30 patients with benign relapsing remitting MS (BMS), 27 with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 29 with primary progressive MS (PPMS), and 30 healthy controls.

Serum uric acid, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and apolipoprotein E genotype in benign vs. progressive multiple sclerosis.

The majority of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience gradual progression of disability, either as secondary progressive MS (SPMS) or primary progressive MS (PPMS). A subgroup with relapsing-remitting MS shows a benign course with little or no disease progression and minimal disability decades after the first manifestations, so called benign MS (BMS). In our search to identify factors that are associated with progression of MS, we investigated serum levels of uric acid and dehydroepiandrostenedione sulphate (DHEAS), and apolipoprotein (apo)E genotype in 28 patients with BMS, 33 with SPMS, 21 with PPMS, and 29 healthy individuals.

Serum uric acid levels and leukocyte nitric oxide production in multiple sclerosis patients outside relapses.

Background: A number of studies found that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have low serum levels of uric acid. It is unclear whether this represents a primary deficit or secondary effect. Uric acid is a scavenger of peroxynitrite, which is the product of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide.

Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 in relapsing and primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Using radioimmunoassay we measured serum levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and a benign course (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) < or =3 despite > 10 years disease duration), relapsing MS with cumulative disability leading to an EDSS score >4 within 10 years of disease duration, primary progressive MS and healthy controls. We found no differences in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 serum levels, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio between the four groups. However, there was a significant correlation (P =0.

Peripheral blood leukocyte NO production in MS patients with a benign vs progressive course.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in tissue destruction and axonal degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: To investigate NO production by peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in patients with a benign and progressive course of MS.

Methods: PBL were isolated from 25 patients with a benign course of MS (BMS), 33 with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 21 with primary progressive MS (PPMS), and 29 healthy individuals.

Low leucocyte myeloperoxidase activity in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The gene for myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). By measuring H(2)O(2) dependent oxidation of 3,3'5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine with spectrophotometry the authors investigated MPO activity in peripheral blood leucocytes from 42 patients with MS (12 with secondary progressive MS, 17 with primary progressive MS, and 13 with relapsing remitting benign MS) and 32 healthy controls. Leucocyte MPO activity was significantly lower in patients with benign MS (mean (SEM) 0.

Early prediction of a benign course of multiple sclerosis on clinical grounds: a systematic review.

Background: There is growing consensus that neurologists should consider disease-modifying therapies early in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is a subgroup with a natural benign course, in which treatment could be postponed. We sought to determine the frequency of benign MS and early clinical factors that may predict a benign course.

Diabetes mellitus among South Asian inhabitants of The Hague: high prevalence and an age-specific socioeconomic gradient.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is known to be high among South Asians. The Municipal Health Service in The Hague investigated the prevalence of self-reported diabetes among South Asian inhabitants of The Hague, and the relationship between diabetes prevalence and socioeconomic status in this population.

Methods: A total of 3,131 South Asians >30 years of age, randomly selected (stratified according to age and sex) from the municipal register, were included in a postal survey with subsequent telephone interviews with non-respondents.