Anti-myelin antibodies in clinically isolated syndrome indicate the risk of multiple sclerosis in a Swiss cohort.
OBJECTIVE
In patients with a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), the time interval to convert to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) is highly variable. Individual and geographical prognostic factors remain to be determined. Whether anti-myelin antibodies may predict the risk of conversion to CDMS in Swiss CIS patients of the canton Berne was the subject of the study.


METHODS
Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and anti-myelin basic protein antibodies were determined prospectively in patients admitted to our department.


RESULTS
After a mean follow-up of 12 months, none of nine antibody-negative, but 22 of 30 antibody-positive patients had progressed to CDMS. Beta-Interferon treatment delayed the time to conversion from a mean of 7.4 to 10.9 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In a Swiss cohort, antibody-negative CIS patients have a favorable short-term prognosis, and antibody-positive patients benefit from early treatment.
Greeve
I
I
Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland. isabel.greeve@insel.ch
Sellner
J
J
Lauterburg
T
T
Walker
U
U
Rösler
K M
KM
Mattle
H P
HP
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein / Q000276:immunology*; D063308:Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome