title: Demonstration in children of oligoclonal IgG bands in unconcentrated CSF using agarose isoelectric focusing and immunolabeling.
abstract: Agarose isoelectric focusing, followed by protein transfer to cellulose nitrate membrane and double-antibody avidin-biotin peroxidase staining (avidin-biotin agarose isoelectric focusing), was used to demonstrate oligoclonal IgG bands in unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum; 161 consecutive pediatric patients, ages 6 months to 16 years with a variety of mainly neurologic disorders, were studied. The procedure was standardized for agarose isoelectric focusing (AIF) using 5 microliter specimens containing 125 ng of IgG. Oligoclonal bands were found in the CSF of 12% of the patients; bands were found simultaneously in the CSF and serum of 10% of the patients, mostly those with nervous system infections, but also those with central nervous system tumors, seizures, or migraine. In about 50% of positive cases, oligoclonal bands constituted the only CSF abnormality, reflecting an abnormal humoral immune response within the CSF-central nervous system compartment. Avidin-biotin AIF can be recommended as an integrated part of routine CSF examinations in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institute Medical School, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kostulas
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Eeg-Olofsson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Link
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000276:immunology; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands