http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/57/5/895

Neurology 2001;57:895-896
© 2001 American Academy of Neurology

Jukka Peltola, MD;, Maritta Ukkonen, MD;, Eeva Moilanen, MD, PhD; and Irina Elovaara, MD, PhD
From the Neuroimmunology Unit (Drs. Peltola, Ukkonen, and Elovaara), Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital; and The Immunopharmacological Research Group (Dr. Moilanen), University of Tampere Medical School and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Findland.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jukka Peltola, Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital, P.O. Box 2000, Tampere, FIN 33521, Finland; e-mail: jukka.peltola@tays.fi

Because nitric oxide (NO) is a putative mediator of oligodendrocyte damage in the primary progressive form of MS (PPMS), the authors analyzed the levels of NO oxidation products in CSF and plasma from 25 patients with PPMS and 15 controls.

The levels of nitrite + nitrate (NOx) in CSF were fourfold higher in patients with PPMS than in controls (p < 0.001), whereas the concentrations in plasma were similar.

These data suggests involvement of NO in nervous tissue damage in PPMS.