Background: Clinical deterioration of relapsing–remitting MS (RR-MS) patients reflects not only the number and severity of overt inflammatory and demyelinating episodes, but also subtle central damage caused by persistent exposure to inflammatory molecules. Objective: To explore the correlation between levels of CSF inflammatory molecules at the time of diagnosis and both demographic and clinical characteristics of a large sample of RR-MS patients, as well as the predictive value of cytokine levels on their prospective disease course. Methods: In 205 patients diagnosed with RR-MS, we measured at the time of diagnosis the CSF levels of inflammatory molecules. Clinical and MRI evaluation was collected at the time of CSF withdrawal and during a median follow-up of 3 years. Results: The time interval between the first anamnestic episode of focal neurological dysfunction and RR-MS diagnosis was the main factor associated with high CSF levels of IL-6 and IL-8. Furthermore, elevated CSF levels of these cytokines correlated with enhanced risk of clinical and radiological disease reactivation, switch to second-line treatments, and with disability progression in the follow-up. Conclusions: Delayed diagnosis and treatment initiation are associated with higher CSF levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in RR-MS, leading to worsening disease course and poor response to treatments.
CITATION STYLE
Stampanoni Bassi, M., Iezzi, E., Landi, D., Monteleone, F., Gilio, L., Simonelli, I., … Buttari, F. (2018). Delayed treatment of MS is associated with high CSF levels of IL-6 and IL-8 and worse future disease course. Journal of Neurology, 265(11), 2540–2547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-018-8994-5
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