[Disorders of formaldehyde metabolism and its metabolic precursors in patients with multiple sclerosis]

Blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid were studied in 90 patients with multiple sclerosis. Patients showed substantially elevated levels of formaldehyde and N-methyl amino acids as related to control subjects. These metabolites' concentration was also higher in those patients with prevailing cerebellar signs and progressive course of the disease or in exacerbations of remission course compared with the cases of prevailing pyramidal structures involvement and benign course with long-lasting remissions. Glycine administration resulted in reduced blood levels of formaldehyde. Its role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis is discussed.