MS Detectable With Blood Test

Multiple sclerosis has been added to a long list of illnesses that can be predicted long before the first symptoms show themselves, according to a new study that looked into the effectiveness of anti-body analysis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a dangerous and debilitating disease that causes a victims own immune system to attack the central nervous system of their brain, causing symptoms as severe as paralysis and loss of vision, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Health care professionals Detecting MS as soon as possible is preferable so that treatment can be administered as soon as possible. Still, it is impossible for medical professionals to detect the disorder before the first symptoms of it, such as numbness of the limbs, begin to occur, meaning that some damage has already been inflicted by the disease.

However, a study sceduled to be published in association with the American Academy of Neurology has shown that MS can be detected long before the disease actually begins to take its toll on the body. An antibody has been found to be linked to MS, and researchers claim that it is easily detectable with an analysis of a patient's blood.

To reach their conclusions, researchers analyzed blood sample from 16 blood donors who had all been diagnosed with MS two to nine months after giving blood. Sixteen other samples were analyzed from healthy donors who did not develop the disease.

The researchers found that the antibody associated with the KIR4.1 protein showed presence or activity in nine of the 16 MS donors. The antibody did not show up at all in the blood of those who did not develop the disease.

The researchers argue that while the antibody is not always detectable, it's presence should be more than enough to raise some concerns. Blood testing for the antibody, it is implied, could save livelihoods if preventative action against MS are taken.

If true, this would add MS to a long list of diseases that can be predicted long before they show thier first signs. Prostate cancer is another tentative addition.

The study is scheduled for presentation at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in Philadelphia this Spring.  All information associated with this research should be considered preliminary until it is published for peer review after its presentation.