CSF Electrophoresis in One Thousand Patients

Abstract

Agarose and/or cellulose acetate electrophoresis was performed on the CSF of 1000 patients. In patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) (N = 267) 92.8% had oligoclonal banding (O.B.). In patients with possible MS (N = 283) O.B. was present in 31.1%. In patients with other neurological diseases (N = 450) O.B. was present in 8% (N = 36). Non-MS patients (19) with positive O.B. had serum bands or disorders known to be associated with local immune response. The remaining 17 patients had no explanation for the oligoclonal banding. In the majority of these MS was not a diagnostic consideration. CSF electrophoresis is the single most reliable laboratory test in MS and deserves incorporation into the diagnostic criteria for the disease.