Core temperature is not elevated at rest in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Neurology

Background:

• Previous research suggested elevated resting core body temperature in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
• This notion has significant implications for understanding thermoregulation and fatigue in MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To rigorously reassess whether individuals with relapsing-remitting MS exhibit an elevated resting core temperature using precision thermometry.
• To investigate the relationship between resting core temperature and subjective fatigue in MS patients.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-eight relapsing-remitting MS patients and 27 age-matched controls were studied across two international sites.
• Resting rectal, esophageal, and tympanic membrane temperatures, along with oxygen consumption, were measured under controlled environmental conditions.
• Subjective fatigue was assessed using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).

Main Results:

• No significant group differences were found in resting rectal, esophageal, or tympanic membrane temperatures between MS patients and controls.
• Resting oxygen consumption also did not differ between the groups.
• No correlation was observed between resting core temperature and physical, cognitive, or psychosocial fatigue in MS patients.

Conclusions:

• Contrary to prior suggestions, precision thermometry indicates that resting core temperature is not elevated in relapsing-remitting MS patients compared to healthy controls.
• The study found no association between resting core temperature and subjective fatigue measures in this MS cohort.