GAMMA GLOBULIN STUDIES IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO THE PROBLEM OF DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

The gamma globulin concentrations in samples of cerebrospinal fluid were electro-phoretically estimated in 81 patients with multiple sclerosis, 50 patients with other neurological disorders and 25 controls. A significant increase was noted when the group with multiple sclerosis was compared with either of the other two groups. Patients in whom the disease was well established and who usually showed marked disability showed the highest incidence of a raised gamma globulin level. A high incidence was also encountered during the initial phases of the diseases when routine examination had failed. It is concluded that the determination of gamma globulin levels in cerebrospinal fluid samples is of help in the clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.