There is an iron-responsive subtype of MS

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There are some children with MS which are iron-deficient and get better with iron supplements. Of course they do not belong to the general MS case, but this means that all the treatments for MS avoiding iron should be carefully monitored.

Identification of an iron-responsive subtype in two children diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis using whole exome sequencing

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 6919300023

Background

Multiple sclerosis is a disorder related to demyelination of axons. Iron is an essential cofactor in myelin synthesis. Previously, we described two children (males of mixed ancestry) with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) where long-term remission was achieved by regular iron supplementation. A genetic defect in iron metabolism was postulated, suggesting that more advanced genetic studies could shed new light on disease pathophysiology related to iron.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the potential value of WES to identify heritable risk factors that could affect the reabsorption of transferrin-bound iron in the kidneys causing sustained iron loss, together with inhibition of vitamin B12 absorption and vitamin D reabsorption (CUBN) and iron transport into mitochondria (SLC25A37) as the sole site of heme synthesis. This supports a model for RRMS in children with an apparent iron-deficient biochemical subtype of MS, with oligodendrocyte cell death and impaired myelination possibly caused by deficits of energy- and antioxidant capacity in mitochondria.