Objective To explore the correlations between serum uric acid (UA) levels and the clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters of multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods The medical reports of 47 MS patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital during 2008 and 2010 were reviewed. And 49 age- and gender-matched cerebral infarction patients were enrolled as control. The mean serum UA level of the MS patients was compared with that of the control group. The correlations between the UA levels and the clinical parameters including gender

disease duration

relapse rate

and disease disabilities as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale score

were explored. Forty-one patients had CSF examinations. The correlations between the UA levels and the CSF parameters reflecting inflammation and tissue damage

including CSF protein

white blood cell count

oligoclonal band

24-hour IgG index

and myelin basic protein

were also investigated. Results The mean serum UA level in the MS patients was lower than that in the control group (247.75 ± 52.59 µmol/L vs. 277.94 ± 74.33 µmol/L

P=0.025) and inversely correlated with the relapse rate (P=0.049). MS patients with lower serum UA levels tended to have higher white blood cell counts and myelin basic protein level. But there was no correlation between CSF protein levels (r=0.165

P=0.273)

white blood cell counts (r=-0.051

P=0.732)

IgG index (r =0. 045

P=0.802)

or myelin basic protein level (r =-0.248

P=0.145) and the serum UA level

respectively. Conclusion In MS patients

UA levels might partly reflect the extent of disability and inflammation.