MS Blood Test Studied

MS has always been associated with a variety of symptoms that may occur unpredictably and mimic other conditions. In most cases, patients “present” to the neurologist after their first flare-up of neurological symptoms, which is labeled as a “clinically isolated syndrome.” Up to 80 percent of those who experience a clinically isolated syndrome will eventually develop MS, but predicting who will be in this 80 percent is difficult. To diagnose MS, lesions must be disseminated in both time and space. In other words, the physician must confirm that two MS-like events have occurred and/or lesions have appeared in more than one location and at two different times. This process may be both expensive and time-consuming, involving continued evaluation and repeated MRI scans.

According to a recent article (Berger T., et al., Antimyelin antibodies as a predictor of clinically definite multiple sclerosis after a first demyelinating event, New England Journal of Medicine, July 10, 2003, 349 (2), pp. 107-109), a new test for MS disease activity may be on the horizon. Researchers in Austria have studied a simple blood test that identifies serum antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and myelin basic protein (MBP) – substances that are damaged during MS disease activity.

The investigation involved 103 participants with a clinically isolated syndrome and positive results with MRI and CSF analysis. Of the 22 individuals who had antibodies against both MOG and MBP, 21 (or 95 percent) experienced a relapse eight months later, on average. Of the 39 who were negative on both antibodies, only nine (23 percent) had a relapse, and on average, this occurred almost four years later. The third group of 42 people had positive readings for the MOG antibody only, and 35 of them (83 percent) had a relapse after a little more than a year, on average.

According to the article, this could be a “rapid, inexpensive, and precise method for the prediction of early conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis.” The advantage of such a method would allow doctors to better identify those patients who should begin immunomodulating treatment immediately, which may delay the occurrence of a second attack leading to a definite MS diagnosis. Theoretically, such a test may even hold the potential to one day predict upcoming disease activity in those already diagnosed, allowing for steroidal treatment or other proactive strategies for individuals prior to the onset of an exacerbation.

MSAA's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jack Burks explains, “This investigation illustrates the excellent quality of MS research being conducted today. However, I would hesitate to make a clinical decision based on preliminary results. If confirmed by other scientists, these data may help us to make crucial decisions about when to start immunotherapy.”.

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