CSF Inflammatory Biomarkers of Multiple Sclerosis Disease Activity

Although multiple sclerosis (MS) is often considered a disease of the white matter, appreciation is growing that pathology also directly affects the cortex. Meningeal inflammatory follicles may contribute to cortical injury through cytokines and subpial demyelination (NEJM JW Neurol Jun 2018 and Ann Neurol 2018; 83:739). To examine possible correlations between grey-matter inflammation and clinical disease progression, investigators evaluated inflammatory markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 99 patients with treatment-naive relapsing-remitting (RR) MS and followed them prospectively on MS treatment for 4 years.

During the study, 41 patients experienced some evidence of disease activity (relapse, new lesion, or worse disability score).…