The Effect of Oligoclonal Bands in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: The data for oligoclonal bands (OCB) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their association with clinical profiles of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between OCB and clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features in patients with MS.
Materials and Methods: Patients between the ages of 18-65 who were diagnosed as having MS in the first 3 months of the onset of the disease were included. The difference between the clinical (gender, age of onset of disease, clinical presentation and subtypes of disease) and MRI characteristics as well as the choice of the treatment regimen of OCB-positive and negative patients were evaluated. The data of the patients were obtained retrospectively from our hospital records.
Results: Sixty-four patients who met the criteria were included in the study. Two groups were formed. Group 1 involved 50 OCB positive patients with MS and group 2 involved 14 OCB negative patients with MS. In CSF parameters, cell number (p=0.001), and IgG index were statistically significantly higher in OCB (+) patients compared to OCB (-) patients (p<0.001). In MRI, higher lesion number in the lower cervical spinal segment was found in OCB (+) patients compared to OCB (-) patients. There were no significant differences between OCB (+) and (-) patients with MS in relation to the course of the disease, symptoms of the first attack and severity, relapse rate, or disease modifying therapy.
Conclusion: Our results showed that the presence of OCB had a negative effect on MRI in patients with MS. Larger studies are warranted in patients with MS.