Prothrombin and factor X are elevated in multiple sclerosis patients

• Published in: Annals of neurology Vol. 80; no. 6; pp. 946 - 951
• Main Authors: Göbel, Kerstin, Kraft, Peter, Pankratz, Susann, Gross, Catharina C., Korsukewitz, Catharina, Kwiecien, Robert, Mesters, Rolf, Kehrel, Beate E., Wiendl, Heinz, Kleinschnitz, Christoph, Meuth, Sven G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood Coagulation Factors - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; Factor X - metabolism; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive - blood; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - blood; Neuromyelitis Optica - blood; Prothrombin - metabolism; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0364-5134; 1531-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.24807

Animal models have implicated an integral role for coagulation factors in neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) beyond their role in hemostasis. However, their relevance in humans requires further elucidation. This study aimed to determine whether levels of coagulation factors differ between patients with neuroimmunological disorders and respective controls. Individuals suffering from relapsing–remitting and secondary progressive MS had significantly higher prothrombin and factor X levels than healthy donors, whereas levels were unchanged in primary progressive MS and neuromyelitis optica patients. Our study demonstrates that coagulation factors may be key mediators in neuroinflammation and may therefore provide future targets for therapeutic strategies. Ann Neurol 2016;80:946–951