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Published on: April 14, 2014
Relationship between serum bilirubin levels and optic neuritis
Juan Deng1, Xue-Mei Liang, Xiu-Lan Zhang
1Department of Ophthalmology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China.
Chinese Medical Journal
|September 17, 2013
Summary
Serum bilirubin, an antioxidant, was lower in optic neuritis (ON) patients compared to controls. This suggests a potential antioxidant deficiency in ON, though it didn't correlate with disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Ophthalmology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Bilirubin, a heme catabolism product, possesses significant antioxidant properties.
- Reduced serum bilirubin levels are observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO).
- The role of endogenous bilirubin in optic neuritis (ON), which shares pathophysiology with MS, remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify serum bilirubin levels in patients diagnosed with optic neuritis (ON).
- To explore the relationship between ON and the body's antioxidant status as indicated by bilirubin levels.
Main Methods:
- Serum bilirubin levels (total, direct, indirect) were analyzed in 42 ON patients.
- Comparisons were made with 50 MS patients, 48 NMO patients, and 48 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Patients with ON exhibited significantly lower serum total bilirubin (Tbil), direct bilirubin (Dbil), and indirect bilirubin (Ibil) compared to healthy controls.
- No significant differences in bilirubin levels were found between ON, MS, and NMO groups.
- Lower bilirubin levels in ON patients were associated with disease recurrence or longer duration (≥ 1 year) and papillitis subtype, though not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Patients with ON may present with a compromised antioxidant status.
- Serum bilirubin levels did not demonstrate a significant correlation with clinical aspects of ON, including recurrence, disease duration, or subtype.
- Evidence suggests that reduced antioxidant status might be present in MS and NMO patients prior to the onset of systemic symptoms.
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