Glasgow-based researchers develop 'ground-breaking' blood test
06 Oct 2008
A Glasgow-based research lab has announced what it claims to be a major breakthrough in the treatment of progressive multiple sclerosis (MS).
Glasgow Health Solutions (GHS), headed by Dr Tom Gilhooly, has developed Tyscore Assay, a blood test which detects the chemicals associated with the deterioration of nerve cells in people with MS.
The research team says the blood test will track the progression of MS, allowing doctors to pinpoint when patients are about to enter the next deteriorating phase of the condition.
Researchers used the test to measure the level of nitrotyrosine – the indicator of cell damage and inflammation seen in people with MS. They then used this as a biomarker for peroxynitrite activity which is thought to cause the deteriorating nerve damage in MS.
Dr Laura Bell, Research Communications Officer at the MS Society, said: "Yes, there is some science that suggests nitrotyrosine levels are raised in people with MS, but its value as a biomarker simply has not been validated and therefore interpretation of the results would be open to question.
"Also, there are currently no biomarkers known to predict MS, either in the blood or urine and no drugs to suppress nerve loss or indeed progression in secondary progressive MS or primary progressive MS anyway, so a positive result would not lead to a change in treatment or diagnosis.
"It’s also worth remembering that nitrotyrosine levels could be induced by a number of different things including infections. People with progressive MS are more likely to get infections, particularly urinary tract infections, and this would confuse the results.
"The MS Society is among others carrying out early-stage research trying to find biomarkers for MS. A simple blood or urine test would of course be preferable to the current lumbar punctures or expensive MRI scans."
The research team says the blood test will track the progression of MS, allowing doctors to pinpoint when patients are about to enter the next deteriorating phase of the condition.
Researchers used the test to measure the level of nitrotyrosine – the indicator of cell damage and inflammation seen in people with MS. They then used this as a biomarker for peroxynitrite activity which is thought to cause the deteriorating nerve damage in MS.
Dr Laura Bell, Research Communications Officer at the MS Society, said: "Yes, there is some science that suggests nitrotyrosine levels are raised in people with MS, but its value as a biomarker simply has not been validated and therefore interpretation of the results would be open to question.
"Also, there are currently no biomarkers known to predict MS, either in the blood or urine and no drugs to suppress nerve loss or indeed progression in secondary progressive MS or primary progressive MS anyway, so a positive result would not lead to a change in treatment or diagnosis.
"It’s also worth remembering that nitrotyrosine levels could be induced by a number of different things including infections. People with progressive MS are more likely to get infections, particularly urinary tract infections, and this would confuse the results.
"The MS Society is among others carrying out early-stage research trying to find biomarkers for MS. A simple blood or urine test would of course be preferable to the current lumbar punctures or expensive MRI scans."
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