title: Cerebrospinal fluid IgM index correlates with cranial MRI lesion load in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: In multiple sclerosis intrathecal IgM synthesis correlates with an unfavourable disease course. Whether this reflects a pathogenic role of IgM, possibly in conjunction with complement, is a matter of debate. In a cross-sectional study we measured intrathecal synthesis of IgM and the complement component C3, and on cranial MRI lesion load and central brain atrophy in clinically active patients, 17 relapsing-remitting, 16 secondary progressive. Correlative analysis showed that in relapsing-remitting patients CSF IgM index correlated with cranial MRI T2 and T1 lesion load, and central brain atrophy; and the C3 index correlated with T2 lesion load. In secondary progressive patients CSF IgM index correlated with periventricular T2 lesion load. Our data are in favour of a pathogenic role of IgM in multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: MS-MRI Centre Free University Hospital Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.jongen@mscentrumnijmegen.nl
authors.forename: Peter J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jongen
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lycklama a Nijeholt
authors.forename: Karel J B
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lamers
authors.forename: Wim H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Doesburg
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barkhof
authors.forename: Wim A J G
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lemmens
authors.forename: Ina S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Klasen
authors.forename: Otto R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Hommes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003165:Complement System Proteins