Effect of corticosteroid therapy on serum and CSF malondialdehyde and antioxidant proteins in multiple sclerosis

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease characterised by perivascul ar infiltrates and demyelination of the white matter in the central nervous system. Although the precise cause of MS remains unknown, some investigati ons have been carried out on antioxidant mechanisms in these patients. Meth ods: In this study, malondialdehyde (MDA), as a lipid peroxidation marker, and ceruloplasmin (Cp) and transferrin (Trf), as antioxidant proteins, leve ls were determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 30 MS patients before and after corticosteroid therapy and in 20 control subjects. Transf errin and Cp levels were measured by the nephelometric method and MDA was m easured spectrophotometrically. Results: Mean MDA(serum) and MDA(CSF) level s were found to be highest in the pretreatment group and lowest in the cont rol group. Although there was no significant difference in terms of serum T rf level, serum Cp was found higher in pre- and posttreatment groups than i n the control groups. Ceruloplasmin and Trf levels of CSF were not detectab le using the nephelometric method. A significant correlation was found betw een MDA(CSF) and MDA(serum) in the pretreatment group (r=0.58). Conclusions : These data revealed that lipid peroxidation was increased in serum and pa rticulary in CSF of MS patients and was reduced with corticosteroid therapy .