HOMOCYSTEINE AND VITAMIN-B12 IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

The levels of cobalamin and homocysteine in patients with multiple scl erosis (MS) were evaluated. The mean value of cobalamin (B12) in serum and cerebrosphinal fluid (CSF) in MS patients were 0.176+/-0.0177 and 0.059+/-0.003 mu mol/l respectively whereas the levels were 0.317+/-0 .02 and 0.081+/-0.005 mu mol/l respectively in the healthy subjects. T he mean homocysteine(HC) levels in serum and CSF in MS patients were 1 3.05+/-0.54 and 3.07+/-0.15 mu mol/l respectively as compared to 2.85/-0.15 and 1.06+/-0.07 in the healthy subjects. The increased levels o f HC and decreased Levels in B12 in serum as well as in CSF in MS pati ents were significant (p<0.001) as compared to healthy subjects. Our f inding indicate that MS patients are particularly prone to B12 deficie ncy resulting into increased levels of HC both in serum and CSF and th is even subtle biochemical signs of abnormality seems to justify B6 an d B12 treatment.