Mehrzad Moghadasi, Amir Rahimi, Rahim Shirazi Nezhad, Fariba Alipour, Somayeh Rashidfar, Marzieh Noruzpour and Aida Moeini
Physical performance has been reported to be reduced among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; however the mechanisms that affected physical performance in these patients no well known. The aim of the present study was to examine the physical performance and myelination factors in female patients with MS. Twenty seven female MS patients (32.3 ± 6.9 years of old; mean ± SD) with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) 1– 4.5 participated in this study as the subject. The subjects divided into three groups: Group A: EDSS <1.5, Group B: EDSS 1.5 – 2 and Group C: EDSS> 2. Each participant was assessed with standing balance test and 500-meter walking test and fasted blood sample was taken during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. The time of leg balance were higher in MS patients with lower EDSS and they completed the 500-meter walking test faster that those with higher disability status (P<0.05). The results showed that although BDNF concentration was higher in MS patients with lower disability (P<0.05), no significant changes were observed in NGF, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-17, Prolactin, DHEA sulfate, ACTH and Cortisol levels among MS patients with different disability. Finally, the present study demonstrated a positive relationship between DHEA sulfate with leg balance of the patients (P<0.05) and no significant relationships were observed between neurotrophin concentrations, inflammatory markers and other hormonal levels with physical performance of the subjects. According to these finding, it seems that hormonal disorders may the most important factors that affected physical performance in female MS patients.
