Metalli pesanti e sclerosi multipla

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system affecting young adults. Sardinia is a high-risk area for MS. MS findings were being associated to exposure to heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) by in vitro studies. Aim of this study was to assess the presence of heavy metals in 51 cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) samples; 29 (56.9%) individuals were affected by MS and 22 (43.1%) subjects by other neurological disorders. Among MS patients 69% had relapsing-remitting (RR) course and 21% had a progressive. Using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we determined Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn CSF levels (mean+/-SD) in MS patients (2.9+/-3.58 microg/L, 0.08+/-0.06 microg/L, 18.8+/-6.5 microg/L, 35.6+/-20.8 microg/L, 1.6+/-1.4 microg/L, 0.74+/-0.39 microg/L, 74.4+/-175.7 microg/L, respectively) and in the control group ( 2.7+/-1.67 microg/L, 0.11+/-0.11 microg/L, 21.6+/-9.8 microg/L, 34.6+/-21.09 microg/L, 1.28+/-0.7 microg/L, 1+/-0.72 microg/L, 28.58+/-19.5 microg/L, respectively). Comparing to controls, Al, Mn, Zn and Fe levels were higher in MS patients; several other differences in trace element levels were also identified.