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. 2008 Sep 9:7:17.
doi: 10.1186/1744-859X-7-17.

Increased plasma homocysteine levels in patients with multiple sclerosis and depression

Nikolaos Triantafyllou  1 , Maria-Eleftheria Evangelopoulos, Vasilios K Kimiskidis, Evangelia Kararizou, Fotini Boufidou, Konstantinos N Fountoulakis, Melina Siamouli, Chrysoula Nikolaou, Constantinos Sfagos, Nikolaos Vlaikidis, Dimitrios Vassilopoulos
Affiliations

Increased plasma homocysteine levels in patients with multiple sclerosis and depression

Nikolaos Triantafyllou et al. Ann Gen Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the plasma levels of homocysteine in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to investigate whether an association with depression exists.

Methods: Plasma homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12 and plasma folate were measured in 65 moderately disabled patients with relapsing/remitting MS (RR-MS) and 60 healthy controls. All subjects were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Results: Hcy levels were significantly increased in MS patients compared to controls (13.5 +/- 4.7 mumol/l vs 8.5 +/- 3.1, p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between Hcy levels and BDI scores (Pearson r = 0.3025, p < 0.05). Plasma Hcy was not related to Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, age, disease duration or vitamin B12 and folate.

Conclusion: Moderately disabled MS patients with elevated Hcy levels are particularly prone to develop depressive symptomatology. Further study is warranted in order to elucidate the prognostic and therapeutic implications of this novel finding.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Box and whisker plot of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and vitamin B12 in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and controls. Hcy, but not B12 levels, were significantly different amongst the two groups (p < 0.001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation graph between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores.
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