Axonal damage in patients with early multiple sclerosis: disease stage related changes of Tau protein level in cerebrospinal fluid

Background: Axonal damage has been proposed as the major morphological substrate of permanent clinical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Tau protein (tau), a phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein localised in neuronal axons, may serve as a biochemical surrogate to evaluate axonal loss in vivo. We intended to determine the extent of axonal degeneration in different stages and clinical subtypes of MS by investigating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau concentrations. Methods: Tau in CSF was measured using an ELISA in 102 patients (35 remitting-relapsing MS; 8 secondary progressive MS; 9 primary progressive…