This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Dr Sclafani - you have moved me to tears with your compassion & expertise. Both myself (PPMS) and my daughter (RRMS) are on "your list" for dx & treatment. During the wait, I pray and learn - thank you!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10685854

Transferrin in patients with multiple sclerosis: a comparison among various subgroups of multiple sclerosis patients.
Zeman D, Adam P, Kalistová H, Sobek O, Kelbich P, Andel J, Andel M.

Dept of Neurology, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVES: To compare cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum transferrin (Tf) concentrations, transferrin quotient and index in various subgroups of MS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CSF and serum transferrin concentrations, transferrin quotient QTf (i.e. CSF transferrin/serum transferrin x 10(3)) and index (QTf/Qalbumin) were determined in a group of 51 patients with clinically definite or probable multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients were subdivided according to the disease form (relapsing-remitting = RR, secondary progressive = SP, primary progressive = PP; patients with RR form were further subdivided into those in the attack and those in remission), disease severity (EDSS 0-5.5, EDSS 6.0-10.0), its treatment (non-treated - including patients treated with vitamins and/ or vasodilators only, treated - i.e. glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants and/or (exceptionally) beta-interferon), disease duration (0-2 years, >2-10 years, > 10 years) and sex. Correlation of transferrin values with age was also performed. RESULTS: Serum transferrin was somewhat lower and significantly more frequently subnormal in PP patients in comparison with the SP form and the RR form in remission. Transferrin index was significantly higher in the PP form than in the RR as well as the SP form. Transferrin quotient was significantly more frequently subnormal in patients in remission compared to those in the attack of the RR disease. CSF transferrin as well as transferrin quotient were more frequently subnormal in patients with short disease duration (0-2 years) than in patients with longer disease duration; these parameters, however, correlated also significantly with age. CSF transferrin and transferrin quotient were higher in male than in female patients. CONCLUSION: The authors conclude that evaluation of transferrin in MS patients - along with albumin - may help to differentiate among various MS subgroups, since there are significant differences among RR, SP and PP forms. For this purpose, however, other CSF protein fractions should be evaluated in parallel in order to obtain more complex information and to establish a panel of examinations enabling multiple statistical analyses. Transferrin evaluation in MS may also be of significant theoretical interest, since transferrin is known to be involved in the regulation of iron metabolism and it may have a protective role against the oxidative stress. Moreover, transferrin is a growth factor important for proliferation of activated T lymphocytes. By means of the use of transferrin quotient and especially transferrin index, it may be possible to estimate the proportion of intra-CNS-synthesized transferrin and/or rate of specific transferrin transport across the blood-CSF barrier. Further studies are, however, needed for such an evaluation.

They have done studies on iron metabolism, people like me with primary progressive MS tend to have an elevated transferrin level no matter what. People with relapsing remitting have transferrin levels that jump all over the place. It is still all iron metabolism problems...

No, let's focus on venous obstruction in this thread, please. Thanks.

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On the note of albumin and proteins....I have just started taking proteolytic enzymes to help break down the excess proteins that us MSers seem to have in our blood stream. I might start a thread in the natural approach section on this. Apparantly they have a strong anti inflammatory action and help the body break down these harmful proteins back into amino acids where they can be excreted.

If parent and daughter both end up getting venograms it sure will be interesting to see if they have the same type of venous obstruction. Has anyone heard of other cases of family members with different forms of MS?

At the risk of starting writing out of turn (yet again), I just wanted to point out that Merlyn's comment was quite relevant to the thread title, if not to venous differences written about by Rokkit in the first post.

My mother has MS - RRMS, her sister has MS - not sure of the specific kind, but is wheelchair bound, my brother had progressive MS and was in a wheelchair at this death. I have RRMS, I get around just fine. So out of the 4 of us, two with progressive types (in wheel chairs), 2 with RRMS.

It was my fault, I chose a terrible title for the thread. I didn't mean to be insensitive to Merlyn, I was just in a hurry. Sorry.

Zamboni has talked about PPMS being different in terms of more azygous involvement, agenesis of lumbar plexus veins, etc. I was just wondering if newlywed4ever's situation might be a case where a child could have inherited the same venous obstruction issue, yet the MS manifested as a different form.


That's very interesting. Are there any plans yet for any of you to get tested for CCSVI?

If parent and daughter both end up getting venograms it sure will be interesting to see if they have the same type of venous obstruction. Has anyone heard of other cases of family members with different forms of MS?