cqvip:Background: A number of studies found that patients with multiple sclerosis (M S) have low serum levels of uric acid. It is unclear whether this represents a p rimary deficit or secondary effect. Uric acid is a scavenger of peroxynitrite, w hich is the product of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide. Because peripheral bloo d leukocyte NO production and NO metabolites in serum are raised in MS patients, associations might be expected between serum uric acid levels and peripheral NO production.Methods: Serum levels of uric acid and NO production by peripheral b lood leukocytes were measured in 60 patients with MS without a relapse in the pa st 3 months, and 30 age-and sexmatched healthy controls. Uric acid was determin ed with the uricase PAP method, and NO production was assayed by measuring nitri te concentration in supernatants of lysed leukocytes.Results: Serum uric acid le vels were not different between MS patients and controls. Compared to controls, patients with MS had significantly higher peripheral blood leukocytes nitrite co ncentrations (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between leukocyte nitrite con centration and serumuric acid levels. Conclusions:Our findings suggest that in M S patients there is no primary deficit in serum uric acid. NO production by peri pheral blood leukocytes is increased, but there is no association with serum uri c acid levels.
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