FREE-RADICALS IN INFLAMMATORY NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE - INCREASED LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND HAPTOGLOBIN LEVELS IN GUILLAIN-BARRE-SYNDROME

Oxidative damage in three inflammatory neurological disorders; Guillai n Barre syndrome (GBS), multiple sclerosis and aseptic meningitis, wer e assessed by measuring the peroxidation of lipids in body fluids, The results were compared to a control group consisting of patients with either migraine, chronic/tension headaches, benign intracranial hypert ension or psychological disorders, Antioxidant status was assessed by the measurement of the extracellular proteins, haptoglobin, albumin, c aeruloplasmin and transferrin, The results of the study suggested that firstly, haptoglobin levels might be a useful, easily obtainable mark er to aid the diagnosis of GBS, Secondly, free radical damage may be i mplicated in the pathology of GBS and therefore appropriate free radic al scavenging might have beneficial effects.