P-cresol sulfate, a component of urinary myelin basic protein-like material, as a correlate of multiple sclerosis status

A method of predicting an increase in the amount of lesions and total lesion area of a patient with multiple sclerosis, comprising the steps of:

• (a) collecting multiple urine samples over time from a patient with multiple sclerosis;
• (b) measuring the amount of p-cresol sulfate in said urine samples;
• and
• (c) comparing said amount of said p-cresol sulfate in each urine sample from said patient to an art-accepted standard;
• wherein an increase in said p-cresol sulfate level in said urine samples is predictive of an increase in the amount of lesions and/or total lesion area in said patient.

A method of predicting normal age-related changes in myelination on in a developing child, comprising the steps of:

• (a) collecting multiple urine samples over time from a child;
• (b) measuring the amount of p-cresol sulfate in said urine samples;
• and
• (c) comparing the amount of said p-cresol sulfate in each urine sample from said child to an art-accepted standard;
• wherein from birth through approximately one year of age, the amount of urinary p-cresol sulfate is lower in said child relative to established values for adults;
• wherein from approximately one year of age through approximately five years of age, the amount of urinary p-cresol sulfate in said child increases linearly exceeding said established values for adults;
• wherein between approximately five years of age and approximately eight years of age, the amount of urinary p-cresol sulfate in said child decreases to approximately established values for adults, wherein said amount of urinary p-cresol sulfate in said child is predictive of normal age-related changes in said developing child.