URIC ACID, A POTENTIAL BIOMARKER OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND ITS DISABILITY

Raghad Khaddour*, Youssef Zreik, Issa Layka

ABSTRACT

Background: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune chronic disease with two components inflammation and neurodegeneration.. Oxidative stress is implicated in MS pathogenesis, and uric acid, a potent antioxidant scavenger of peroxynitrite, may offer neuroprotection. This study investigates uric acid as a potential biomarker for MS and its association with disability. Methods: A prospective case-control study enrolled 100 participants. The MS group (n=50, 13 males, 37 females), comprised individuals diagnosed using established criteria, with a mean age of 34.9 years recruited from the Neurology Department, Tishreen University Hospital, Latakia (April 2023-May 2024). The control group (n=50, 13 males, 37 females), with a mean age of 27.5 years, consisted of individuals without MS or neurological conditions and with no history of medications affecting uric acid levels. Uric acid levels and disability scores were measured. Results: The MS group had significantly lower uric acid levels (mean: 3.5 mg/dL) compared to the control group (mean: 4.3 mg/dL) (p-value = 0.01). A negative correlation was observed between uric acid levels and disability scores in MS patients (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: There is an important association between low uric acid levels and increased disability in MS. Large-scale studies are needed to validate these results and explore underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale), peroxynitrite, uric acid.