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Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein: A Surrogate Marker of the Activity of Multiple Sclerosis
Inas K Sharquie1, Gheyath Al Gawwam2, Shatha F Abdullah1
1University of Baghdad, College of Medicine, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Baghdad, Iraq.
Objective:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with various clinical types. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is significantly elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients compared with that of healthy controls. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum levels of GFAP in relation to disease activity in relapsing-remitting MS patients and to compare them with those of healthy controls.
Method:
This study involved 58 MS patients of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) type, 22 in an active stage of the disease and 36 in remission, and 50 healthy individuals as age- and sex-matched controls. Blood samples were taken from the patients at the MS Clinic of the Baghdad Teaching Hospital, and the serum levels of GFAP were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.
Results:
Mean GFAP serum levels in 22 patients presenting in the active state of the disease (6.47±3.39 ng/ml) and 36 cases in remission were (5.33±2.82 ng/ml) (p=0.074) were determined as indicated. When RRMS patients (n=58) were compared with the healthy controls (n=50, 1.89±1.21), the difference in serum levels of GFAP was statistically significant (p<0.001). The area under the curve of the serum measures of GFAP obtained through the receiver operating characteristics was 0.903, which was also statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
GFAP biomarker is an indicator of disease activity in RRMS patients, and its serum level may correlate with the state of remission or exacerbation.
Insights
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) serum levels are elevated in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, indicating disease activity. This biomarker may help differentiate between active and remitted states in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomarker Discovery
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease with diverse clinical presentations.
- Elevated glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is noted in MS patients.
- Serum GFAP levels require evaluation for their association with disease activity in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess serum GFAP levels in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients.
- To correlate serum GFAP levels with disease activity (active vs. remission).
- To compare serum GFAP levels between RRMS patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 58 RRMS patients (22 active, 36 remission) and 50 healthy controls.
- Collected blood samples from participants.
- Quantified serum GFAP using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Main Results:
- Serum GFAP levels were significantly higher in RRMS patients (n=58) compared to healthy controls (n=50) (p<0.001).
- Mean GFAP levels were 6.47±3.39 ng/ml in active RRMS and 5.33±2.82 ng/ml in remission (p=0.074).
- Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed significant diagnostic potential for serum GFAP (AUC=0.903, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Serum GFAP serves as a potential biomarker for disease activity in RRMS.
- GFAP levels may correlate with the clinical status of remission or exacerbation in MS.
- This study highlights GFAP's utility in monitoring MS disease activity.
