Triglyceride glucose index in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Introduction. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by areas with inflammatory changes associated with demyelination. Cholesterol is a significant structural component of the central nervous system incorporated into the myelin sheath. The aim of study was to examine values of lipid status parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis and the correlation between these parameters and the triglyceride glucose index. Material and Methods. A retrospective study included 28 patients with multiple sclerosis. Medical records of the Clinic of Neurology and databases of the Center of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center of Vojvodina were analyzed. Based on the obtained data of the glycemic index and lipid profile, triglyceride glucose index was calculated. Results. Borderline elevated values of total cholesterol and low-density cholesterol (5.25 ? 1.08 mmol/L; 3.90 ? 4.54) were found in patients with multiple sclerosis. Linear correlation analysis showed a statistically positive correlation between triglyceride glucose index and total cholesterol (r = 0.572; p = 0.01), low-density cholesterol (r = 0.256; p = 0.05) and low-density cholesterol to high-density cholesterol ratio (r = 0.502); p = 0.01). No statistically significant correlation between triglyceride glucose index and high-density cholesterol was observed. Conclusion. The examined group with multiple sclerosis had borderline elevated values of total cholesterol and low-density cholesterol. There is a significant correlation between the triglyceride glucose index and values of total cholesterol, low-density cholesterol, as well as the low-density cholesterol to high-density cholesterol ratio.