BAFF serum and CSF levels in patients with multiple sclerosis and infectious nervous system diseases

• Published in: International journal of neuroscience 2021-12, Vol.131 (12), p.1231-1236
• Main Authors: Braun, Tobias, Juenemann, Martin, Dornes, Kathrin, El-Shazly, Jasmin, Schramm, Patrick, Bick-Ackerschott, Sandra, Kaps, Manfred, Gerriets, Tibo, Blaes, Franz, Tschernatsch, Marlene
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; B-Cell Activating Factor - blood; B-Cell Activating Factor - cerebrospinal fluid; Central Nervous System Infections - blood; Central Nervous System Infections - cerebrospinal fluid; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis - blood; Multiple Sclerosis - cerebrospinal fluid
• ISSN: 0020-7454; 1563-5279; 1543-5245
• DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2020.1784167

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated CNS disease, characterised by demyelination and progressive neurological disability. The B-cell activating factor BAFF has been described as one important factor in the pathophysiology of different autoimmune diseases. We measured BAFF levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 50 consecutive patients with MS and 35 patients with infectious CNS disease (ID). 52 patients with other, non-inflammatory disorders (OND), served as controls. BAFF-serum levels in ID patients were higher than in patients diagnosed with MS (ID 0.55 ± 0.24 ng/ml, MS 0.43 ± 0.14 ng/ml, OND 0.45 ± 0.24 ng/ml;  = 0.09). Interestingly, MS patients had lower BAFF CSF levels compared to the controls and ID patients, and the CSF levels in the latter were elevated compared to those of the controls (MS 0.17 ± 0.11 ng/ml, OND 0.25 ± 0.14 ng/ml, ID 0.97 ± 0.78 ng/ml;