What is serum oligoclonal bands?
Oligoclonal bands (OCBs) are bands of immunoglobulins that are seen when a patient’s blood serum, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is analyzed. They are used in the diagnosis of various neurological and blood diseases, especially in multiple sclerosis.
What does oligoclonal bands in CSF mean?
CSF is the clear fluid that flows in the space around the spinal cord and brain. Oligoclonal bands are proteins called immunoglobulins. The presence of these proteins indicates inflammation of the central nervous system. The presence of oligoclonal bands may point to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
What diseases have oligoclonal bands in CSF?
Oligoclonal bands were detected in the CSF of 95% of the patients with multiple sclerosis, 90% with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and 100% with herpes simplex encephalitis, but less frequently in other central nervous system infections.
Where are oligoclonal bands found?
Oligoclonal bands are found in a variety of inflammatory and infectious CNS disorders, including paraneoplastic disorders, CNS lupus, neurosarcoidosis, and Behçet’s disease; however, the majority of cases in which oligoclonal bands are seen are infectious.
What conditions show Oligoclonal bands in serum?
Oligoclonal bands can be found in serum in a number of infections (e.g HIV, EBV) and autoimmune diseases. Indication: Detection of localised neuronal synthesis of immunoglobulin. Most useful in diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Are Oligoclonal bands always present in MS?
The chief interest of this anomaly is therefore the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, as with the current technologies it is found in approximately 95 % of MS patients. Oligoclonal bands are present at the disease’s onset and generally persist throughout its progression.
How do you read an oligoclonal band?
Interpretation. When the oligoclonal band assay detects 2 or more unique IgG bands in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the result is positive. CSF is used in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) by identifying increased intrathecal IgG synthesis qualitatively (oligoclonal bands).
What does matching Oligoclonal bands mean?
The CSF oligoclonal band screen looks for these bands in your CSF. Their presence suggests inflammation of the central nervous system due to infection or another disease. If similar bands aren’t present in your blood, you may have multiple sclerosis (MS).
What conditions show oligoclonal bands in CSF and not in serum?
Oligoclonal bands in CSF not seen in serum but some common oliogoclonal bands found in both – consitent with MS but can have other causes. Identical oligoclonal bands in serum and CSF – no local synthesis, pattern seen in Guillain Barre, HIV infection and other chronic inflammatory states.