Nasal Mucociliary Clearance and Its Relationship With Disease Severity in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease associated with increased susceptibility to infections. Nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) is a primary defense mechanism of the respiratory system; however, its status in patients with MS remains insufficiently explored. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective, matched case-control study included 60 patients with MS and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. NMC time was measured using the saccharin test under standardized conditions. Clinical data, including disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, MS subtype, and treatment regimens, were recorded. Between-group comparisons and correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between NMC and clinical parameters. RESULTS Mean NMC time was significantly longer in patients with MS compared with healthy controls (11.68±5.10 vs 7.47±1.83 minutes, P<0.001). NMC time showed a significant positive correlation with EDSS scores (r=0.378, P=0.003). Patients with progressive MS exhibited significantly prolonged NMC times compared with those with relapsing-remitting MS (P=0.004). In addition, subgroup analyses demonstrated differences according to MS subtype and treatment groups, supporting the association between NMC and disease characteristics. CONCLUSIONS NMC was impaired in patients with MS and was associated with disease severity. These findings suggest that NMC assessment may serve as a potential noninvasive marker of disease-related physiological dysfunction and may help identify patients at increased risk for respiratory complications. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and to clarify their clinical implications.