Oligoclonal bands in Devic's neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis: differences in repeated cerebrospinal fluid examinations

Mult Scler. 2004 Feb;10(1):2-4. doi: 10.1191/1352458504ms988oa.

Abstract

We studied repeated cerebrospinal fluids of patients with Devic's neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Variations of oligoclonal bands (OBs) had opposite trends in the two groups. In MS, OBs were detected in 399 of 411 patients (97%) and never disappeared. In NMO, OBs were detected in three of 11 patients (27%) and always disappeared. The hypothesis that NMO and MS follow distinct pathogenetic pathways is supported by our findings, which can be useful for the differentiation of NMO from MS.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / diagnosis
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / diagnosis
  • Oligoclonal Bands / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Oligoclonal Bands