Cerebrospinal fluid IgG profiles and oligoclonal bands in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis

Objectives - To investigate the significance of oligoclonal bands (OCBs) and intrathecal IgG fractions (IgGIF) for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) in northern China. Materials and methods - OCBs in cerebrospinal fluid from 30 patients with MS, 34 with other inflammatory neurological diseases (IND) and 22 with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND) were detected using isoelectric focusing. IgGIF was calculated based on corresponding formula. Results - There was no significant difference in the frequencies of positive OCBs and elevated IgGIF between the MS group and the IND group. Compared with NIND, the MS and IND groups had a significantly higher incidence of OCBs and elevated IgGIF. The sensitivity, specificity and positive result likelihood ratio of OCBs for the diagnosis of MS were 63.3%, 74.2% and 2.5 respectively; those of IgGIF were 36.7%, 84.5% and 2.4. Conclusions - The two parameters, OCBs and IgGIF are of less diagnostic value for MS in China.