Evaluation of Changes in Hemorheological Variables in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative condition primarily attributed to immune system dysregulation. However, emerging evidence suggests that additional factors, such as neurodegeneration independent of immune processes, may also contribute to MS pathology. Given the significant cerebral hypoperfusion observed in MS patients from the early to advanced stages of the disease, investigating hemorheology or blood rheology, which involves studying blood flow properties and plasma protein compounds, can contribute to understanding the underlying pathology of MS. This study aims to evaluate changes in hemorheological variables in MS patients, which may offer a better understanding of the disease’s progression and its impact on blood flow dynamics. Materials and Methods: In this study, we assessed the modifications in key factors impacting hemorheology in articles related to MS. Some keywords including MS, Blood Viscosity, Hemorheology, and brain perfusion were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The searches were limited to studies published in English languages from 2000 to 2023. Results: Among the 110 articles found in the search, finally, 35 articles were included in the review. In some studies, patients with MS were examined for rheological blood properties and demonstrated an appreciable increase in blood viscosity. Furthermore, declines in cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow in MS are linked to the deterioration of physical disability. In our investigation, we focused on the key factors influencing hemorheology and examined their variations in the articles about patients with MS. Conclusion: The reduction of tissue blood perfusion caused by changes in blood hemorheology can be considered as one of the causes of the development or exacerbation of MS, but to estimate hemorheological changes in MS, we need to conduct more detailed studies on humans, which we hope will provide new solutions for the therapists of this disease.