Relevance of callosal and periventricular MRI lesions to oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between callosal or periventricular lesions, and the presence of oligoclonal IgG bands (OB) or the IgG index in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was studied in 34 Japanese clinically definite MS cases. Sagittal 2-mm fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) imaging was added to the routine MRI studies.


RESULTS
Among the 34 patients, 20 (59%) were OB positive. Among the 20 patients with OB-positive MS, 17 (85%) had callosal lesions, although only two (14%) of 14 OB-negative MS patients had callosal lesions. The periventricular lesion area was significantly larger in the OB-positive patients compared with the OB-negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study clearly demonstrated a strong association between the periventricular lesions and OB in Japanese MS. Certain OB-related immune mechanisms may contribute to the development of callosal and periventricular lesions in MS. OB may be an important factor to understand the pathomechanisms of MS lesions.
Nakashima
I
I
Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Seiryo-machi, Sendai, Japan. inakashima@em.neurol.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Fujihara
K
K
Miyazawa
H
H
Misu
T
T
Fujimori
J
J
Sato
S
S
Itoyama
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001284:Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands / Q000378:metabolism*
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands