Levels of YKL-40 in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose: Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1 or YKL-40), novel inflammatory glycoprotein predominantly produced by reactive astrocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate YKL-40 levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of newly diagnosed relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Neurology Clinic of Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Faculty of Medicine Training and Research Hospital between October 2012 and November 2016. A total of 50 participants, including 30 newly diagnosed and untreated RRMS patients (18 females, 12 males, age range 18-40 year) and 20 controls (12 females, 8 males, age range 20-40 year) were included in the study. CSF and serum YKL-40 levels of RRMS patients and controls were measured by ELISA. Results: CSF YKL-40 levels of RRMS patients were significantly higher than in controls. (respectively,168.8±28.3 ng/ml and 70.1±14.3 ng/ml, p