Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin are not associated with disease activity or treatment response in multiple sclerosis

Adipokines secreted by fatty tissue have inflammatory properties and are suggested biomarkers of MS disease activity. To assess this, 88 MS patients were followed with nine repeated measurements of leptin and adiponectin and 12 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for two years; six months without any immunomodulatory treatment followed by 18 months during interferon-beta (IFNB) treatment. Serum levels of leptin dropped and adiponectin increased upon initiation of IFNB-therapy, but were not associated with clinical or MRI disease activity or with treatment response. Our findings indicate that leptin and adiponectin are not useful as biomarkers of MS disease activity. •Serum levels of leptin were lower and serum levels of adiponectin were higher during IFNB-treatment compared to before.•There was no association between serum levels of leptin or adiponectin and MRI- or clinical activity.•Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin could not predict clinical relapses or treatment-response.•Fewer of the overweight patients obtained NEDA-status, but this was not explained by serum levels of adipokines.