oligoclonal bands

Oligoclonal bands are bands of immunoglobulins that are seen when a patient's blood serum, gained from blood plasma, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is analyzed.

Two methods of analysis are possible: (a) protein electrophoresis, a method of analyzing the composition of fluids, also known as "agarose gel electrophoresis/ Coomassie Blue staining", and (b) the combination of isoelectric focusing/silver staining. The latter is more sensitive[1].

For the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, a patient has a lumbar puncture performed, which removes some of their cerebrospinal fluid.

Each of the two to five oligoclonal bands seen by protein electrophoresis represent proteins (or protein fragments) secreted by plasma cells, although why exactly these bands are present, and which proteins these bands represent, has not yet been elucidated.

Diagnostic value

The presence of oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid combined with their absence in blood serum often indicates that immunoglobulins are produced in central nervous system. Therefore it is normal to subtract bands in serum from bands in CSF when investigating CNS diseases.

Oligoclonal bands are an important indicator in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Approximately 79%-90% of all patients with multiple sclerosis have permanently observable oligoclonal bands.

The presence of one band (a monoclonal band) is not considered serious and may simply be normal. More bands may reflect the presence of a disease. The bands tend to disappear from the cerebrospinal fluid as a person recovers from the neurological disease.
[edit] Diseases associated

Oligoclonal bands are also found in:

* Multiple sclerosis
* Lyme Disease
* Devic's disease
* Systemic lupus erythematosus
* Neurosarcoidosis
* Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
* Subarachnoid haemorrhage
* Syphilis
* Primary central nervous system lymphoma
* Sjögren's Syndrome
* Guillain-Barre Syndrome