Erythrocyte-UFA (Eufa) mobility test for multiple sclerosis: implications for pathogenesis and handling of the disease
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test (MSPT): An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Abstract:
Erythrocytes from patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) show a highly significant reduction in their absolute electrophoretic mobility in the presence of linoleic and arachidonic acids (LA; AA). Patients with other (destructive) neurological disease (OND) and normal subjects show an increased absolute mobility of their erythrocytes in the presence of LA and AA. About 40 per cent of blood relatives of MS patients show an intermediate type of reaction - being slowed by LA and speeded up by AA. Administration of LA (or gamma linolenate) to an MS patient for some months leads to change in the mobilities from the MS to normal type, the AA result altering first. The effect of LA and AA on the absolute mobility of RBC may thus be used as a simple laboratory test involving a long established technique and eliminating the animal and other needs of the macrophage electrophoretic mobility (MEM) test. The implications of these findings for our understanding and handling of MS are briefly discussed.
Insights
Erythrocytes from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exhibit altered electrophoretic mobility with linoleic and arachidonic acids. This red blood cell mobility change may serve as a diagnostic test for MS and related neurological conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Biophysics
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Erythrocyte electrophoretic mobility is a biophysical property of red blood cells.
- Linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) are fatty acids with potential roles in neurological function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) on erythrocyte electrophoretic mobility in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
- To explore the potential of this erythrocyte mobility test as a diagnostic tool for MS and other neurological diseases.
- To assess the impact of LA administration on erythrocyte mobility in MS patients.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of absolute electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBC) from MS patients, patients with other neurological diseases (OND), and normal subjects.
- Assessing the effect of adding linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) to erythrocyte samples.
- Monitoring changes in erythrocyte mobility following oral administration of LA to MS patients over several months.
Main Results:
- Erythrocytes from MS patients showed significantly reduced electrophoretic mobility in the presence of LA and AA.
- Erythrocytes from OND patients and normal subjects exhibited increased mobility with LA and AA.
- Approximately 40% of MS relatives displayed an intermediate mobility response.
- LA administration to MS patients shifted erythrocyte mobility towards the normal type, with AA response changing first.
Conclusions:
- The effect of LA and AA on erythrocyte electrophoretic mobility differs significantly between MS patients and healthy individuals.
- This erythrocyte mobility test offers a potential simple laboratory diagnostic method for MS, distinct from the macrophage electrophoretic mobility (MEM) test.
- Treatment with LA may normalize altered erythrocyte electrophoretic mobility in MS patients, suggesting a therapeutic avenue.
