Cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulins and multiple sclerosis. Correspondence with magnetic resonance imaging and visually evoked potential changes
F. A. Muller, P. E. Hanny, W. Wichmann, W. Fierz and M. R. Dursteler
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
The clinical (disability) and paraclinical (visually evoked potential
[VEP]/magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) data of patients with definite or
probable multiple sclerosis (MS) were compared with their cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) immunoglobulins taken within the same period of time. For
patients with definite diagnosis by the Schumacher criteria (n = 61) we
found significant correlations between CSF immunoglobulin content (absolute
gamma-globulin value [aggv]) and quantified MRI factors (r = .47), between
aggv and the sum of VEP latencies of both eyes (r = .53), and also between
MRI and VEP changes (r = .62). This was not true for the patients with a
probable MS diagnosis and for patients with first attacks. No correlations
were evident between aggv and disability status or duration of the illness.
The results give support to recent neuropathologic and experimental
findings in animals indicating close pathogenic connections between CSF
immunoglobulins and demyelination in MS.
