Objective: To investigate the effect of Transcutaneous spinal cord current stimulation (tsDCS) on oxidative stress in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Background: MS is a multifactorial disease of the central nervous system in which both inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes occur simultaneously. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of MS and that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which if produced in excess lead to OxS, have been implicated as mediators of demyelination and axonal damage. DC stimulation induces changes in motor cortical excitability and in spinal cord function that persist for almost one hour after current offset and depend on current polarity. These physiological changes may be correlated to some clinical benefits observed in MS after DC application and, possibly, to changes in the neuroinflammatory cascade.

Method: 7 patients (5 men; aged 42-70), with MS, with spasticity, according to revised “Mcdonald Criteria” were recruited. Subjects should have relapsing, remitting, or progressive MS and an EDSS score between 3 and 6 inclusive. 
We delivered two different types of stimulation, anodal and sham tsDCS, in random order. The stimulating current was delivered for 20 minutes, once a day, for 5 days consecutively. The electrodes were positioned over the spinal process of the tenth thoracic vertebra and the other above the right shoulder. Biomarkers were tested in biological samples collected by micro-invasive analytic techniques, at baseline and at the end of the stimulation protocol after 5 days.

Results: ROS production rate (umol.min^-1) determined in capillary blood by EPR, significantly decreased (p<0.05; -6%) after anodal tsDCS and not after sham. On the other hand, Antioxidant Capacity (TAC; mM) always determined by EPR, significantly increased (p<0.05; +4%). This, together with the increase in reduced Glutathione (GSH; umol.L^-1) suggests an antioxidant effect of DC current. Significant increase (p<0.001; +70%) in plasmatic Transthyretin (TTR; mg/dL) concentration was found only after anodal tsDCS.

Conclusion: Our preliminary data showed that tsDCS modulates biomarkers in MS, suggesting a possible antioxidant effect of DC current. Furthermore, the increase of TTR concentration could be related to a blood barrier perturbation and that may induce enhanced nerve regeneration. To confirm our data, a larger sample size is needed.

« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/transcutaneous-spinal-cord-current-stimulation-modulate-reactive-oxygen-species-ros-in-multiple-sclerosis-patients/