Oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid and increased brain atrophy in early stages of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the presence of oligoclonal bands (OB) at early stages of multiple sclerosis was associated with higher brain atrophy, when compared with patients without OB. METHODS: Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients with less than two years of disease onset and OB detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were included. SIENAX was used for total brain volume (TBV), gray matter volume (GMV), and white matter volume (WMV). RESULTS: Forty patients were included, 29 had positive IgG-OB. No differences were found between positive and negative patients in gender, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), treatment received, and T2/T1 lesion load. TBV in positive IgG-OB patients was 1.5 mm³ x 10(6) compared with 1.64 mm³ x 10(6) in the negative ones (p=0.02). GMV was 0.51 mm³ x 10(6) in positive IgG-OB compared with 0.62 mm³ x 10(6) in negative ones (p=0.002). No differences in WMV (p=0.09) were seen. CONCLUSIONS: IgG-OB in the CSF was related to neurodegeneration magnetic resonance (MR) markers in early RRMS.

Increased cerebrospinal fluid albumin and immunoglobulin A fractions forecast cortical atrophy and longitudinal functional deterioration in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

“…The pathogenic role of IgG in MS remains unclear, IgG OCB-positive MS patients having higher global and regional brain atrophy than IgG OCB-negative patients. 23 Rojas et al 24 reported that the presence of IgG OCB in CSF at MS onset is associated with the presence of brain volume reduction, mainly in neocortical GM regions, independent of lesion load and other clinical parameters. Due to the inclusion of a disproportionately large number of OCB-positive patients, analysis of the regional cortical differences depending on IgG OCB status was not possible.…”

Potential Biomarkers Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Pathology

“…The presence of OCGB is also useful in predicting Optic Neuritis (ON) in MS [ 80 , 81 ], although they are not able to report the intensity of a second relapse. Several lines of evidence indicate that patients with OCGB present in their CSF exhibit a higher level of inflammatory activity, which leads to significant tissue damage [ 82 , 83 , 84 ], a greater degree of lesions, and greater brain atrophy [ 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 ].…”

Potential Pathological Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis

“…IgG antibodies an OCB that are produced intrathecally are found in maximum MS patients. The B cells produce oligoclonal bands when Ig transcription of B cell and immunoglobulin proteome overlaps with each other in CSF [44]. Earlier studies demonstrated that MS patients lacking oligoclonal bands have lower immunity which reflects reduced disabilities and risk of converting to SPMS [112].…”