Expansion of antibody reactivity in the cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients - follow-up and clinical implications.
BACKGROUND
An intrathecal polyspecific antibody response is a well known finding in multiple sclerosis. However, little is known about the evolution of intrathecal antibodies over time and their impact on the disease progress. Therefore, we focused in this study on the intrathecal polyspecific antibody response in multiple sclerosis.


METHODS
Here we present a follow-up study of 70 patients with multiple sclerosis over 1 to 106 months. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid sample pairs were obtained from 1 to 5 consecutive lumbar punctures. CSF cell count, the IgG index, local IgG synthesis, oligoclonal bands and the antibody index for measles, rubella or varicella zoster were calculated. Results were analysed with regard to clinical characteristics of the patients.


RESULTS
Once an intrathecal antibody response was established, it persisted. De novo antibody response against measles virus developed in 7% of the patients between the first and the second spinal tap. In two of seven patients where 5 consecutive CSF samples were available, the intrathecal antibody response expanded from one to three antigens. Furthermore, an intrathecal measles antibody production was associated with a rapid progression of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
These data stress the importance of activated B cells for the disease process and the clinical outcome in multiple sclerosis.
Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str, 62, D-50924 Cologne, Germany. hela.petereit@medizin.uni-koeln.de
Hela-Felicitas
HF
Petereit
Dirk
D
Reske