Tau-protein content in blood serum in progredient types of multiple sclerosis courses

Aim. To identify the quantitative diagnostic indexes of tau protein for prognosis of progressive courses (PC) of multiple sclerosis. Method. The value of tau protein in blood serum had been detecting within three groups. These groups included 75 patients with different courses of MS course: the 1st group - 30 patients (20 women and 10 men) with secondary progressive course; the 2nd group - 15 patients (6 women and 9 men) with primary progressive course; the 3d group (control group) included 30 patients (24 women and 6 men) with relapsing course of multiple sclerosis. The index of tau protein was calculated in a laboratory of neurophysiology, immunology and biochemistry of SI “INPN NAMS of Ukraine” by immunofluorescence method. This method makes it possible to identify the subcellular component by a specific immunological reaction. It has high specificity and sensitivity. We have used the standard kits of “Sigma” production (USA). This method allows both a qualitative visual description of the distribution of optical density of tau protein in each patient and the quantitative determination of tau protein level in the blood serum. Results. We have conducted the comparative assessment of tau protein value depending on the type of course, the gender differences, the patient’s age at the time of study, the patient’s age at the onset of the disease (clinical onset), the duration of the disease, the severity of neurological deficiency according to the EDSS scale, and also searched for a predictive quantitative diagnostic index. Studies have shown that the level of tau protein in the blood serum depends on the type of multiple sclerosis’ course and it predominates in progressive course compared to the comparison group of patients with remitting course. The influence of the gender on the value of tau protein in different types of multiple sclerosis was selective and predominant only in women with a primary-progressive course. A complex relationship between the level of tau protein, the age of onset, the duration of disease and the type of multiple sclerosis’ course was determined. Conclusions. 1. The study shows that tau protein participates in the mechanisms of degenerative process’ formation in progressive courses of multiple sclerosis. 2. We have obtained the data on possible application of this criterion in a complex of prognosis for progressive courses of multiple sclerosi