title: Oligoclonal bands and cerebrospinal fluid markers in multiple sclerosis: associations with disease course and progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of oligoclonal bands (OCBs) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters are established in the diagnosis of MS, but poorly as markers of disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of OCBs in disease course and progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  CSF data for 1120 patients with MS were analyzed for associations between OCBs and CSF parameters and clinical data (disease course [relapsing-onset MS (ROMS) vs primary-progressive MS (PPMS)]), disability progression (proportion reaching Expanded Disability Status Scale 6 within 10 years of onset and progression index) and ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of patients with MS, 72.5% had detectable OCBs. For patients with detectable OCBs, 84.6% had ROMS and 15.4% PPMS versus 89.7% and 10.3%, respectively for those without detectable OCBs (p=0.04). Total CSF IgG and protein levels were higher in PPMS compared with ROMS (p<0.001). Disease progression appeared independent of OCB status. Patients with CSF (vs without) data were more likely to be male, older at onset, have PPMS and lack optic neuropathy at onset (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCB positivity and elevated total CSF IgG and protein were moderately associated with a PPMS disease course, but not disease progression. Patients with atypical clinical presentations were more likely to have had CSF work-up, suggesting a testing bias.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lourenco
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirani
authors.forename: Jameelah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saeedi
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oger
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tremlett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands