Multiple Sclerosis study
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system affecting over 2.3 million people worldwide. The progression of multiple sclerosis can differ among patients. Majority of patients suffer from relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis where they experience episodes of severe inflammation followed by a remittance from the disease. Whereas, some patients follow a progressive disease course from the outset and are classified as primary progressive multiple sclerosis. The complex aetiology of multiple sclerosis and the diverse symptoms make a definite diagnosis challenging. Multiple sclerosis is diagnosed by a combination of clinical attacks and lesions observed by MRI therefore the diagnosis can be prolonged in time and it is often hard to distinguish between disease types at the early stages of diagnostic process. Using the PALADINTM platform and ELISA, we have discovered candidate biomarkers capable of aiding the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and distinguishing patients with relapsing remitting from primary progressive disease. Currently, we are assessing platelet-specific biomarkers and proteins we have discovered in multiple sclerosis patients and how these can be utilised as predictors for disease progression in patients.