Cold-induced reactivity in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was focused on the evaluation of the sensitivity to cold in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by means of functional thermoregulatory based tests. MS is known to be a chronic autoimmune progressive disease of the central nervous system of multifactor origin that is very common in regions with cold and humid climate. Disorder of thermoregulation caused by autonomic dysfunction is a typical feature of MS, however the role of the cold in the disease development is still underestimated. Methods. Thirty two MS patients (17 males, 15 females, mean age 29,6±4,2 years) with the remittent form of the disease (mean disease duration 4,2 ± 2,7 years) and 18 age-matched healthy controls volunteered to participate in this study. Susceptibility to cold was analyzed with the use of visual-analogous scale. The duration of cold-induced vasoconstriction after local cold test was estimated using by infrared thermometry. Autonomic regulation of vasomotor reactions was investigated with the help of the skin sympathetic response (SSR) analysis. Results. The analysis of self-reported perception of the cold in MS patients showed their low tolerance to cold. Slow recovery of the skin temperature of the hand in the local cold test observed in MS patients was considered as the aggravated cold-induced vasoconstriction. The decreased SSR in the hands and feet in MS patients was found that indicates the deficit of the neurogenic control of thermoregulatory vasomotor reactions. Conclusion. The results obtained demonstrate the impairment of thermoregulation under cold in MS patients that leads to higher individual susceptibility to cold of this group. Comparing of the data found in this study on the mechanisms of the individual cold-induced reactivity in MS patients with epidemiological surveys enable to conclude that cold environment has potential modulating effect of on the course of MS.