oligoclonal bands and ccsvi recovery

[Cece]

this is a quote from wikipedia, apologies that it is not a better source:

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) may be considered serious, such as lymphoproliferative disease, or may simply be normal—it must be interpreted in the context of each specific patient. 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligoclonal_band

If CCSVI treatment is successful, will the oligoclonal bands disappear, as they tend to do when a person recovers from neurological disease? People don't recover from MS...but maybe they do, now. Wouldn't this be powerful evidence, if indeed these go away.

[cheerleader]

we've discussed this before, and it's a great point, Cece. The problem is, who wants to have a voluntary lumbar puncture to check for o-bands? Jeff's already said, thanks, but no thanks....one was enough for him.

If there are any volunteers who have had CCSVI angioplasty, had bands in spinal fluid before, and would want to coordinate this new test with their neuro, I wish them God-speed.

cheer

[frodo]

we've discussed this before, and it's a great point, Cece. The problem is, who wants to have a voluntary lumbar puncture to check for o-bands? Jeff's already said, thanks, but no thanks....one was enough for him.

If there are any volunteers who have had CCSVI angioplasty, had bands in spinal fluid before, and would want to coordinate this new test with their neuro, I wish them God-speed.

cheer

Maybe some people would be willing to do it in exchange for a free angioplasty. A clinical trial measuring OBs probably would recruit enough people to reach a conclusion.

[CureIous]

this is a quote from wikipedia, apologies that it is not a better source:

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) may be considered serious, such as lymphoproliferative disease, or may simply be normal—it must be interpreted in the context of each specific patient. 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligoclonal_band

If CCSVI treatment is successful, will the oligoclonal bands disappear, as they tend to do when a person recovers from neurological disease? People don't recover from MS...but maybe they do, now. Wouldn't this be powerful evidence, if indeed these go away.

Been dying to know this from the git go. My thoughts exactly too, if those bands are gone, after I was told they only needed to be tested for once..hmmm. I mean, the LP wasn't "fun", but the very thought of vanishing oligoclonal bands is almost too much to resist haha. I had another LP just one year prior to hearing about CCSVI, but it was unrelated to the MS stuff. My neuro was miffed I didn't have some of the fluid saved so he could look at it, like how was I sposed to know that?

I'll ask him when I do a visit with him maybe this month. Finally got insurance back.
M

[Chiawoo]

I have only recently been diagnosed with MS. I had a lumbar puncture and had oligoclonal bands with a IgG of 9 (what ever that means) I MUST find a way to have the ccsvi procedure. I would be happy to have another spinal after to examine if the bands change or disappear.

In my case, there were only three "superficial" legions in the cervical and thorasic spine and two small legions in the brain. The doctor wasn't convinced I had MS till he saw the results of the spinal.

What is strange is that my symptoms are sever. My arms and brain seem ok. but my legs will not bend at the ankle (not foot drop) my feet drag, numbness and very little ability to move either leg. They also are spastic. Any input would be greatly appreciated as I am new to this disease. Thank you and God bless!

[bestadmom]

I've often thought something similar from day 1.

My last neuro doesn't use o-bands as a marker for MS since they aren't present in 100% of us. But he does analyze disease activity by culturing T and B cells in the CSF extracted thru an LP. He periodically made treatment decisions by doing an LP and making comparisions, generally every 6 months. They were done in his office, sitting up but hunched over, and were no big deal. I only had a headache once and had a least 10 of them.

I believe a baseline cell measurement is important and periodic follow-up ones would answer alot of questions.

The neuros do not feel they've found a biomarker for MS, and therefore, wouldn't agree on the methodology.

[frodo]

I've often thought something similar from day 1.

My last neuro doesn't use o-bands as a marker for MS since they aren't present in 100% of us. But he does analyze disease activity by culturing T and B cells in the CSF extracted thru an LP. He periodically made treatment decisions by doing an LP and making comparisions, generally every 6 months. They were done in his office, sitting up but hunched over, and were no big deal. I only had a headache once and had a least 10 of them.

I believe a baseline cell measurement is important and periodic follow-up ones would answer alot of questions.

The neuros do not feel they've found a biomarker for MS, and therefore, wouldn't agree on the methodology.

In fact the presence and absence of OBs (Oligoclonal bands) looks like a very important difference. I don't understand why MS is classified according to the clinical course (RRMS, SPMS, PPMS) and biochemical differences as the presence of OBs are ignored.

Cases with and without OBs should be studied separately.