Molecular biomarkers in Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: How They Can

Medical Research Archives · 2024 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 229

In a cohort of 2,018 consecutive cases, EHS, MCS, and the combined syndrome were reported to share similar biochemical changes. About 90% of cases showed decreased urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate; 30–50% showed increased peripheral blood histamine and HSP2…

Study snapshot

PublicationMedical Research Archives · 2024

Study typecohort

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Molecular biomarkers in Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: How They Can Help Diagnosis, Follow-Up, and in Etiopathologic Understanding Irigaray P, Awaida N, Belpomme D. Molecular biomarkers in Electrohypersensitivity and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: How They Can Help Diagnosis, Follow-Up, and in Etiopathologic Understanding. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], 12(1), 2024. doi: 10.18103/mra.v12i1.4771. Abstract Electrohypersensitivty (EHS) and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) are new worldwide emerging neurologic disorders in the framework of sensitivity-related environmental pathology. We have recently extended and confirmed our previous observation showing that EHS and MCS share clinically identical symptoms and may co-exist as a unique, common, sensitivity-related neurologic syndrome in 25% of the cases. There is presently no published biological study of these disorders, except the one we have previously published as preliminary. In the present study, we show that EHS and MCS and the combined syndrome share identical biochemical changes. More precisely, by measuring levels of peripheral blood and urine molecular biomarkers in a cohort of 2,018 consecutive cases, we show that both disorders and the combined syndrome can be objectively characterized, in about 90% of the cases, by a decrease in the production of 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate in urine, while in 30-50% they are characterized by increased levels of histamine and of heat shock proteins (HSP) 27 and/or 70, and of protein S100B and nitrotyrosine in the peripheral blood. Increased levels of histamine and HSP are indicators of low grade inflammation while increased levels of protein S100B and nitrotyrosine are indicators of blood-brain barrier disruption/opening. In addition, we show that in about 15% of the cases anti-myelin autoantibodies can be detected in the peripheral blood, accounting for the occurrence of an autoimmune response. Sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the biochemical tests are discussed, as well as the role of these indicators used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients. We also discuss cases with undetectable biological change for which they can be nevertheless diagnosed by cerebral neurotransmitters analysis in urine and brain imaging. On the basis of these biological data it is suggested that EHS and/or MCS are new brain disorders, generated via a common etiopathogenic mechanism. esmed.org

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecohort

Effect directionunclear

PopulationPatients/cases with electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and/or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)

Sample size2018

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate levels
Peripheral blood histamine levels
Peripheral blood heat shock proteins (HSP) 27 and/or 70
Peripheral blood protein S100B
Peripheral blood nitrotyrosine
Peripheral blood anti-myelin autoantibodies
Sensitivity/specificity/reproducibility of biochemical tests (discussion)
Urinary cerebral neurotransmitters analysis (for cases with undetectable biological change)
Brain imaging (for cases with undetectable biological change)

Limitations

Exposure characteristics (e.g., EMF source, frequency, intensity, duration) are not described in the abstract
No control/comparison group is described in the abstract
Study design details (inclusion criteria, diagnostic criteria, measurement methods, statistical approach) are not provided in the abstract
Causal attribution to EMF is suggested but not supported by exposure data in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cohort",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Patients/cases with electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and/or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)",
  "sample_size": 2018,
  "outcomes": [
    "Urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate levels",
    "Peripheral blood histamine levels",
    "Peripheral blood heat shock proteins (HSP) 27 and/or 70",
    "Peripheral blood protein S100B",
    "Peripheral blood nitrotyrosine",
    "Peripheral blood anti-myelin autoantibodies",
    "Sensitivity/specificity/reproducibility of biochemical tests (discussion)",
    "Urinary cerebral neurotransmitters analysis (for cases with undetectable biological change)",
    "Brain imaging (for cases with undetectable biological change)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a cohort of 2,018 consecutive cases, EHS, MCS, and the combined syndrome were reported to share similar biochemical changes. About 90% of cases showed decreased urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate; 30–50% showed increased peripheral blood histamine and HSP27/70 and increased S100B and nitrotyrosine; about 15% had detectable anti-myelin autoantibodies.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure characteristics (e.g., EMF source, frequency, intensity, duration) are not described in the abstract",
    "No control/comparison group is described in the abstract",
    "Study design details (inclusion criteria, diagnostic criteria, measurement methods, statistical approach) are not provided in the abstract",
    "Causal attribution to EMF is suggested but not supported by exposure data in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "electrohypersensitivity",
    "EHS",
    "multiple chemical sensitivity",
    "MCS",
    "biomarkers",
    "6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate",
    "histamine",
    "heat shock proteins",
    "HSP27",
    "HSP70",
    "S100B",
    "nitrotyrosine",
    "blood-brain barrier",
    "autoantibodies",
    "anti-myelin"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "electrohypersensitivity",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Focuses on electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and proposed biomarkers."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.18103/mra.v12i1.4771
PubMed: Not supplied

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