Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Elevated plasma fibrinogen levels in multiple sclerosis patients during relapse
Jahir Miranda Acuña1, Milagros Hidalgo de la Cruz1, Alberto Lozano Ros1
1Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Fibrinogen is a protein that plays a key role in blood coagulation and thrombosis and it is involved in several inflammatory processes; in multiple sclerosis (MS) may be related with blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. We analysed the relationship between plasma fibrinogen levels and the presence of active lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during relapses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients.
Methods:
We collected data of patients admitted to a tertiary-care hospital with relapse of MS and CIS from 2008 to 2013 and we analysed the relation between plasma fibrinogen levels (normal: 200mg/dl-417mg/dl) and the presence of active lesions on brain or spinal MRI.
Results:
A total of 58 patients were included, 45 (77%) CIS patients, 12 (21%) relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) and 1 (2%) active progressive MS (P-MS). 17 patients had high plasma fibrinogen levels (> 417mg/dl). Among total of patients with elevated plasma fibrinogen, 15 (88%) had active lesions on MRI and only 2 (12%) did not have active lesion on MRI (p = 0,013) with a specificity of 95%. All patients with fibrinogen > 417mg/dl were CIS (p = < 0.05).
Discussion:
We observed that high plasma fibrinogen levels had a high specificity high specificity, but low sensitivity (only 40%) for detection of active lesions on MRI during relapses of MS. These findings support the hypothesis that fibrinogen could play an important role on the development of MS lesions, however, additional studies are needed to confirm these results.
Insights
High fibrinogen levels in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed high specificity for detecting active brain lesions on MRI. However, elevated fibrinogen was not a sensitive marker for these active MS lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Fibrinogen is a key protein in blood coagulation and inflammation.
- Elevated fibrinogen levels may correlate with blood-brain barrier disruption in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma fibrinogen levels and active lesions on MRI in patients with MS and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 58 patients (CIS, relapsing-remitting MS, progressive MS) from 2008-2013.
- Plasma fibrinogen levels were measured and compared with the presence of active brain or spinal MRI lesions.
Main Results:
- 17 patients had high fibrinogen (> 417mg/dl). Of these, 88% had active MRI lesions (p=0.013), indicating 95% specificity.
- High fibrinogen levels demonstrated high specificity but low sensitivity (40%) for detecting active MS lesions.
Conclusions:
- High plasma fibrinogen is a specific indicator of active lesions in MS relapses, though not sensitive.
- Fibrinogen may play a role in MS lesion development, warranting further investigation.
