Research Paper: Serum Bilirubin Level Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the Central Nervous System(CNS). In addition to the role of immune mediated mechanisms, oxidative and nitrosative stressalso play an important role in neuropathology of MS. Bilirubin as an endogenous antioxidant hasneuroprotective effects; however few studies have assessed the association between serum bilirubinlevel and MS.Objectives: To evaluate serum level of bilirubin in MS patients.Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from participants who referred to KashaniMS clinic in Isfahan between July 2016 and July 2017. A total of 80 MS patients (67 females and13 males) and 94 Healthy Control subjects (HCs) (62 female and 32 male) enrolled. Compressionof bilirubin levels between MS patients and HCs was done with covariance analysis. Regressionanalysis was used to assess the relation between bilirubin concentration and EDSS. SPSS softwareversion 17.0 for Windows (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used.Results: The level of Direct bilirubin (Dbil) was significantly lower in MS patients compared withHCs (P=0.02). Otherwise the serum concentration of Total bilirubin (Tbil) and in Direct bilirubin(Ibil) were higher in MS patients, but it was not statistically significant. There was a negativecorrelation between Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and bilirubin levels (Tbil, Dbil andIbil) but it was not significant.Conclusion: Bilirubin level is lower in MS patients and deficit of its antioxidant level may play rolein neuropathology of MS.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bilirubin ، Multiple sclerosis ، Antioxidants