title: Immunoglobulin M in the cerebrospinal fluid: an indicator of recent immunological stimulation.
abstract: Using a sensitive new method for detecting oligoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) in unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the intrathecal synthesis of IgM was correlated with that of free light chains in patients with multiple sclerosis, infections of the central nervous system and other neurological conditions. A strong correlation was found between the presence of oligoclonal IgM and that of free light chains in the CSF from patients with multiple sclerosis and infections of the central nervous system. No oligoclonal IgM response was observed in patients with non-inflammatory or non-infectious neurological conditions. This implies that oligoclonal IgM has the same diagnostic significance as free light chains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurochemistry, National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London, UK.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sharief
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008581:Meningitis / Q000276:immunology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands
chemical_list: D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands