Sympathetic skin responses in multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Sudomotor dysfunction, indicated by abnormal sympathetic skin responses (SSRs), can occur in MS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) and brain lesion volumes in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Main Methods:

• Sympathetic skin responses (SSRs) were recorded in 27 MS patients and 27 healthy controls.
• Brain lesion volumes were quantified using MRI, specifically proton density-weighted images.

Main Results:

• Abnormal SSRs were observed in 52% of MS patients, with absence primarily in clinically severe cases.
• Total brain lesion volume correlated with MS severity (EDSS score) and reduced SSR amplitudes in the feet.
• Focal lesions in the temporal lobe, pons, and cerebellum were significantly associated with abnormal SSR reflexes.

Conclusions:

• Sudomotor regulation failure in MS is linked to the presence of specific focal brain lesions.
• This suggests a correlation between MS-related neurological damage and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.