Low antioxidant status of serum uric acid, bilirubin and albumin in patients with neuromyelitis optica

Background: Oxidative stress plays a central role in neuropathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). The patients with MS have low antioxidant status. Antioxidant therapy may represent an attractive treatment of MS. However, the relationship between neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a distinct nosologic entity or a form of MS, and antioxidant status has not fully been investigated. Objectives: To investigate the correlation between NMO and serum antioxidant status of uric acid (UA), bilirubin and albumin. Methods: The serum levels of antioxidant molecules UA, bilirubin (Tbil and Ibil) and albumin were measured in 236 individuals comprising healthy subjects and patients with NMO or MS. Results: We found that serum levels of UA, Tbil, Ibil and albumin in patients with NMO were significantly lower than those in healthy control group. Moreover, these results were also observed when the male and female cohorts were investigated separately. Likewise, the serum levels of UA, Tbil, Ibil and albumin in patients with NMO were also lower than those of patients with MS. In all groups, women had lower serum UA, Tbil, Ibil and albumin levels than men. In UA groups, women had significantly lower serum UA levels than men. Conclusion: We concluded that there were reducing serum levels of UA, bilirubin and albumin in patients with NMO. The study showed patients with NMO had low antioxidant status. As a replacement therapy to patients, administration of albumin, bilirubin and UA or theirs precursors, such as inosine of UA precursor, may be beneficial to the patients with NMO.