Iron, transferrin and ferritin concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients in comparison to controls

Ali Moghtaderi
1; Seyed Mehdi Hashemi
2; Naeem Nikpour
3

Abstract

Iron, transferrin and ferritin concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients in comparison to controls

Author(s): Ali Moghtaderi 1 , Seyed Mehdi Hashemi 2* and Naeem Nikpour 3

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common n eurological diseases. It seems that in addition to common risk factors, other factors such as minerals like iron h ave effects in the development or clinical course o f the disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the ferri tin, transferrin and iron levels in the cerebrospin al fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis in comparison to t he control group. In this case - control study we s tudied 120 patients in the two groups. Based on clinical exami nation and paraclinical results, diagnosis of MS wa s confirmed (Polman2010 and McDonald 2006 Criteria). All patien ts referred to hospital who required lumbar punctur e(LP) as a part of making diagnosis entered the study; new M S patients in the case group, and patients with hea dache, neurodegenerative diseases e.g. Parkinson and Alzhe imer diseases, diseases without inflammatory proces s such as peripheral neuropathy, pseudotumor cerebri, venous sinus thrombosis, and brain diseases of unknown eti ology were included in the control group. After obtaining cons ent, CSF specimens were collected and iron, ferriti n and transferrin levels were measured. Mean ferritin lev els in the CSF of patients with MS was lower than t he control group (14.94 ± 10.84 μ g/l) but there was no statistically significant dif ference between the two groups (p=0.07). Mean transferrin and iron levels in MS patients wer e 1.34 ± 0.38 μ g/l and 6.18 ± 4.45 mg/dl respectively; no statistically significant difference between the tw o groups was observed as well (p=0.31 and p=0.13, r espectively). The findings showed that iron and transferrin level s in the CSF of patients with MS are higher than in control group, but without significant difference of opinio n between the two groups. The ferritin levels were lower than control group, but this difference also was not sta tistically significant. Thus, the present study doe s not support the theory of role of iron in the pathogenesis of MS.

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