Serum uric acid level and clinical relevance analysis in autoimmune myelopathy

Abstract

To quantify serum uric acid (UA) levels in autoimmune myelopathy (AMs) patients and analyze the clinical relevance. Blood samples from hospitalized patients with AMs (n = 69) in acute phase and other neurological disorders (n = 50) between September 2009 and December 2013 and healthy subjects (n = 50) were used to detect UA level by enzymatic calorimetric method.Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and spinal MRI-T2 imaging were used for clinical and imaging severity evaluations.And serum AQP4 anitbody and other antibodies were tested. Serum UA level in AMs patients ((223 ± 76) µmol/L) was lower than in controls ((325 ± 53) µmol/L and (324 ± 48) µmol/L, P < 0.001); for clinical relevance analysis, serum UA levels in females ((208 ± 64) µmol/L), age ≥ 40 years ((185 ± 64) µmol/L), EDSS score ≥ 4.5 ((179 ± 59) µmol/L), transverse lesion ((179 ± 56) µmol/L) and neuromyelitis optica/spectrum disorders ((199 ± 70) µmol/L) were lower than in males ((252 ± 88) µmol/L, P < 0.05), age < 40 years ((266 ± 66) µmol/L, P < 0.001), EDSS score < 4.5 ((257 ± 70) µmol/L, P < 0.001), non-transverse lesion ((274 ± 64) µmol/L, P < 0.001) and multiple sclerosis ((261 ± 69) µmol/L, P < 0.05). An inverse correlation existed between UA level and involved spinal segments (r = -0.665, P < 0.001); status of serum antibodies and associated diseases showed no significant differences. Serum UA level is low and shows strong relevance with clinical and imaging severity in AMs patients. And UA is recommended as a biomarker of AMs.