Investigation of oxidative stress in relapse and remission periods of patients with relapsing-Remitting multiple sclerosis

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The role of oxidative stress has gained importance in the pathogenesis of free radicals in cells such as protein, lipid, and nucleic acids by showing myelin loss and axonal degeneration. In this study, serum total oxidant level total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and paraoxonase (PON) in patients with relapsing-remitting-MS (RRMS) were examined. The hypothesis was that antioxidants might indicate the attack phase or the progression phase. Methods: Twenty-four patients with RRMS known to have undergone new attacks and 24 healthy controls whose demographic data were appropriate were included. PON and TAS/TOS measurements were performed once in the healthy group and twice in the serum samples of patients during relapse and remission periods. The Number Cruncher Statistical System 2007 and Power Analysis and Sample Size 2008 Statistical Software (Utah, USA) program was used for statistical analysis. Results: TAS, TOS, and PON levels were similar in the patient and control groups during the attack. In remission, only a positive, statistically significant relationship between the duration of the disease and TAS measurements was noted (r = 0.435; P = 0.034). No significant relationship was found between sociodemographic characteristics, illness duration, laboratory/imaging findings, and antioxidant parameters in blood. Conclusion: In this study, TOS, TAS, OSI, and PON serum levels had no role in determining attack and remission periods in RRMS. There were only significant differences between disease duration and TAS results during the remission period. Following TAS results may help in monitoring progression in patients with early MS.