Biomaterial Database

The clinical use of cerebrospinal fluid studies in demyelinating neurological diseases. 1987

M G Harrington, and P G Kennedy

Biochemical Genetics Section, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

The clinical diagnosis of definite multiple sclerosis is supported by abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid: variable mild pleocytosis and elevation of total protein, moderately elevated total IgG in most patients, and the almost invariable presence of discrete immunoglobulins after electrophoresis, the oligoclonal bands. The oligoclonal bands are non-specific, and are seen in most diseases of the nervous system, but their temporal uniformity in each patient with multiple sclerosis is characteristic. Prognostically, patients with a single episode of optic neuritis or paraesthesia who have oligoclonal bands are more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than if the spinal fluid were normal. In the Guillain-Barré syndrome, the spinal fluid total protein is transiently elevated, with no pleocytosis. Oligoclonal bands are usually found in the acute phase and only persist in those patients with chronic or relapsing polyneuropathy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009103	Multiple Sclerosis	An autoimmune disorder mainly affecting young adults and characterized by destruction of myelin in the central nervous system. Pathologic findings include multiple sharply demarcated areas of demyelination throughout the white matter of the central nervous system. Clinical manifestations include visual loss, extra-ocular movement disorders, paresthesias, loss of sensation, weakness, dysarthria, spasticity, ataxia, and bladder dysfunction. The usual pattern is one of recurrent attacks followed by partial recovery (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, RELAPSING-REMITTING), but acute fulminating and chronic progressive forms (see MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE) also occur. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p903)	MS (Multiple Sclerosis),Multiple Sclerosis, Acute Fulminating,Sclerosis, Disseminated,Disseminated Sclerosis,Sclerosis, Multiple
D011129	Polyradiculoneuropathy	Diseases characterized by injury or dysfunction involving multiple peripheral nerves and nerve roots. The process may primarily affect myelin or nerve axons. Two of the more common demyelinating forms are acute inflammatory polyradiculopathy (GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME) and POLYRADICULONEUROPATHY, CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING. Polyradiculoneuritis refers to inflammation of multiple peripheral nerves and spinal nerve roots.	Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease, Peripheral,Demyelinating Autoimmune Disease, Peripheral,Demyelinating Disease, Peripheral Autoimmune,Peripheral Autoimmune Demyelinating Disease,Polyradiculoneuritis,Polyradiculoneuritides,Polyradiculoneuropathies
D003711	Demyelinating Diseases	Diseases characterized by loss or dysfunction of myelin in the central or peripheral nervous system.	Clinically Isolated CNS Demyelinating Syndrome,Clinically Isolated Syndrome, CNS Demyelinating,Demyelinating Disorders,Demyelination,Demyelinating Disease,Demyelinating Disorder,Demyelinations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man