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Oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis

Clinical-pathologic correlation

Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences and the Department of Pathology, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

Although oligoclonal banding is a characteristic feature of MS spinal fluid, some patients do not show this abnormality. Four of 18 consecutive patients with autopsy-proven MS had no oligoclonal bands (OB) in CSF during life or at postmortem. Patients with OB had numerous plasma cells in meninges and plaques (confirmed in sections stained for cytoplasmic immunoglobulin). The four patients without bands had few or no identifiable plasma cells. Therefore, lack of OB correlates with both inactivity of plaques and absence of plasma cells in plaques or meninges. This is another form of heterogeneity in MS.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Ebers, Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University Hospital, P.O. Box 5339, London. Ontario, Canada N6A 5A5.

Supported by grants from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the P. S. I. Foundation.

Accepted for publication June 6, 1984.

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