Oxidative Stress and Symptoms Associated with Multiple Sclerosis.

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory and degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system with an unknown pathophysiology. Oxidative stress appears to play a prominent role in both the onset of the disease as well as the perpetuation of the inflammatory and neurodegenerative process. We have analysed parameters relating to oxidative stress in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and healthy people. In pwMS, the ratio of oxidative stress was determined using clinical and neuroimaging variables. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher in pwMS compared to the control group, while the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8 OH-dG) were lower in pwMS. The TAC levels correlated with age and the time of evolution. The pwMS with a slowing down in the speed of processing exhibited lower levels of TAC and greater levels of 4-HNE. No relationship was found between oxidative stress and the presence of depression, fatigue or a lower quality of life. The results suggest that the mechanisms involved in the cognitive impairment (CI) observed in MS may be related to oxidative stress, which is why these parameters could be useful in diagnosis and monitoring.