Evaluation of the relationship between serum cholesterol levels and multiple sclerosis disease activity

Abstract

Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated, inflammatory, demyelinating, neurodegenerativedisease of the central nervous system affecting young adults. Cholesterol and lipids are essential componentsof nerve cells and are abundant in the myelin sheath. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationshipbetween plasma cholesterol levels and severity of the disease and lesion burden in cranial magnetic resonanceimaging.Methods: A total of 70 patients (22 males and 48 females) with the diagnosis of MS were included in thestudy. Age, gender, duration of disease, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, total number ofrelapses since diagnosis, current treatment and lipid levels of all participants were recorded. The patients weregrouped according to EDSS scores, total number of relapses and number of lesions observed in cranial MRIand the data were compared among the groups.Results: The mean age was 38.62 ± 9.94 years and the duration of the disease was 7.50 ± 5.88 years. Themean EDSS score was 2.80 ± 1.69. Total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels were found to be significantlyhigher in the group with more than 3 relapses. Patients with > 9 lesions were older and EDSS scores werehigher. In correlation analysis; there was a significant positive correlation between total cholesterol and LDLlevels and EDSS scores and disease duration.Conclusions: We found that the number of relapses, disease duration, and EDSS scores were significantlycorrelated with cholesterol levels. The changes in plasma cholesterol levels which are easily accessiblelaboratory tests may provide insight into MS disease activity and progression.