You’ve Got to Check This Out A Blood Test That Predicts Worsening of MS

Potential for Blood Test to Predict Worsening of MS

Blood Test May Predict Worsening of Multiple Sclerosis

One issue hampering the care of people with multiple sclerosis is assessing just how quickly the neurological illness might progress. It’s like trying to predict if a sloth will reach the finish line before a cheetah. Well, worry no more, because researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have come to the rescue with a blood test that could help determine the pace of MS progression. Cue the applause!

So, here’s the deal: a biomarker called Nfl, which indicates nerve damage, has been found to be elevated in blood tests of patients with MS who later experienced worsening symptoms over the next two years. It’s like finding breadcrumbs leading you directly to an impending disaster. But fear not, these breadcrumbs, I mean elevated Nfl levels, can actually help patients and their doctors plan their treatment strategies. Dr. Ahmed Abdelhak and his team at UCSF are like detectives, cracking the code to prevention.

Picture this: a patient’s level of disability in MS is typically measured using what’s known as the Expanded Disability Status Scale. This study tracked almost 1,900 patients with MS over a 10-year period, keeping tabs on how quickly their symptoms progressed. And let me tell you, the results were as unpredictable as a game of poker. Out of the cohort, 570 patients experienced a steady worsening of symptoms, while the disease remained stable in others. But guess what? Blood tests targeting Nfl gave the researchers some psychic powers in predicting who would or wouldn’t progress. It’s like they had a crystal ball hidden in their lab coats!

Let’s dive into the specifics. The researchers found that elevated Nfl levels were associated with up to a staggering 91% higher risk of worsening disability, with relapse occurring approximately a year later. And if that wasn’t enough, they also discovered that elevated Nfl levels increased the risk of worsening disability without a relapse nearly two years later by up to 49%. Talk about playing with fire!

The study, published in the prestigious journal JAMA Neurology, aligns with the growing recognition that nerve cell death is a slow and steady process that eventually leads to permanent disability. But here’s the kicker – interventions to protect nerve cells might just have enough time to halt the progression of disability. It’s like a superhero swooping in at the last minute to save the day.

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So, what does all of this mean for you? Well, if you have multiple sclerosis, this blood test could be a game-changer for predicting the speed of your illness and tailoring the best treatments specifically for you. It’s like having the ability to peek into your MS crystal ball and make informed decisions for your health.

If you want to know more about multiple sclerosis, head over to the National MS Society for all the juicy details.

QUESTION: What kind of disease is multiple sclerosis?

This content was originally published on HealthDay. Source: UCSF news release, Nov. 6, 2023.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU:

People with multiple sclerosis may be able to take a blood test that can predict how fast their illness progresses, opening new insights into the best treatments. It’s like having a crystal ball for your health!