A new case–control study has reported elevated plasma levels of the coagulation factors prothrombin and factor X in patients with relapsing–remitting or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with primary progressive MS did not show elevated coagulation factor levels, suggesting that the coagulation system could contribute to inflammatory aspects of the disease. The findings are in line with previous studies in animal models, which have implicated coagulation factors in processes beyond haemostasis in neuroinflammatory disorders.
References
Göbel, K. et al. Prothrombin and factor X are elevated in multiple sclerosis. Ann. Neurol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.24807 (2016)
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Malkki, H. Coagulation factors could mediate neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 12, 679 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2016.175
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2016.175