A New Diagnostic Biomarker for Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Endocan Level

ABSTRACT

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease

affecting the human central nervous system. Many molecules are involved in its

pathophysiology and help determine prognosis. The goal of this study was to determine

serum endocan levels in patients with inactive MS.

Methods: A total of 96 participants were included in the study; 48 patients with

relapsing-remitting MS (mean age: 37.46±12.53, 20 men/28 women) and 48 controls

(mean age: 38.22±18.57, 22 men/26 women). After the samples were thawed under

appropriate conditions, serum endocan levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked

immunosorbent assay. The relationship between endocan levels and the Expanded

Disability Status Scale, demographic characteristics and medications were analyzed.

Results: The endocan concentration was 371.04±67.39 ng/l in patients with MS and

1003.78±110.63 ng/l in the controls. Patients with MS had significantly lower levels of

endocan than the controls did (P=.003). Endokan had the lowest diagnostic value

(AUC=0.67, (95% CI, 0.56-0.78) as the cut-off value (229.50), sensitivity (63.04%) and

specifity (39.13%) in the MS group. In this study, no significant differences were detected

between Endocan and the other clinical parameters.

Conclusion: According to the results of our study, compared withthose in healthy

patients, endocan levels in MS patients were lower. It was concluded that the edokan

level can be used as a biomarker in MS patients.

Keywords: Diagnostic biomarker, EDSS, endocan, inflammation, multiple sclerosis