Elevated fibrinogen levels in neuromyelitis optica is associated with severity of disease

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. In this study, the important role of fibrinogen in demyelination diseases was investigated. Plasma prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thrombin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen, were measured among 189 patients with MS/NMO and 80 non-inflammatory neurological disease subjects as a control group. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to measure neurological impairment and disability of MS/NMO group. Fibrinogen levels were elevated in NMO and MS groups comparing with control ones, which was statistically associated with the severity of disease. Our results may lead to a better understanding of the etiopathogenesis of MS/NMO and contribute to prospects for preventions and treatments.