Subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Inflammatory Diseases

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory central nervous system disorder.
• Inflammation in MS may increase susceptibility to subclinical atherosclerosis.
• This study investigates subclinical atherosclerosis and inflammatory cytokines in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare subclinical atherosclerosis between RRMS patients and healthy controls.
• To evaluate the role of inflammatory cytokines in the development of atherosclerosis in RRMS.
• To determine if RRMS is an independent risk factor for early atherosclerosis.

Main Methods:

• 112 non-diabetic, non-hypertensive RRMS patients on disease-modifying drugs (DMD) and 51 healthy controls were studied.
• Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT) was measured.
• Serum levels of atherosclerosis risk factors and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Mean CCA IMT did not differ significantly between RRMS patients and controls.
• RRMS patients' CCA IMT correlated with IL-6, hs-CRP, cystatin C, glucose, cholesterol, LDL, ESR, and triglyceride levels.
• Adjusted for age and sex, IL-6 serum levels significantly predicted CCA IMT exclusively in the RRMS group.

Conclusions:

• Treated RRMS may not be an independent risk factor for early atherosclerosis (arterial wall thickening).
• A significant association exists between IL-6 serum levels and CCA IMT specifically within the RRMS cohort.
• Inflammatory markers like IL-6 warrant further investigation in MS-related cardiovascular risk.