CSF oligoclonal band patterns reveal disease heterogeneity in multiple sclerosis

J Neuroimmunol. 2009 Jun 25;211(1-2):101-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.03.003. Epub 2009 May 13.

Abstract

Oligoclonal IgG bands (OCGB) are characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS). Most patients show OCGB exclusively in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Others have serum bands with additional ones in CSF. Moreover, IgM bands against myelin lipids (LS-OCMB) associate with aggressive relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). We studied oligoclonal bands in 424 MS patients. Most primary progressive (PPMS) patients showed serum OCGB with additional bands in CSF. Conversely, most RRMS and secondary progressive (SPMS) patients showed OCGB exclusively in CSF (p<0.0001). Moreover, no PPMS patient presented LS-OCMB, while 31% of RRMS and 60% of SPMS groups showed these antibodies (p<0.0001). This suggests heterogeneous autoimmune mechanisms in MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Oligoclonal Bands / blood
  • Oligoclonal Bands / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Oligoclonal Bands / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Oligoclonal Bands