Incidence of CSF abnormalities in siblings of multiple sclerosis patients and unrelated controls.
Journal article, 2000
We found that 19% (9/47) of healthy siblings of patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis had an intrathecal immunological reaction with two or more 2 CSF-enriched oligoclonal bands (OCBs), in contrast to (4%) (2/50) unrelated healthy controls. Furthermore, in this group of nine healthy sibs the measles CSF IgG antibody titers were higher than that of the other sibs and that of controls. There were also differences in the serum titers for measles IgG antibody, which were higher in the group of all healthy sibs than in healthy volunteers, and (as with CSF titers) higher in the subgroup of healthy sibs with two or more 2 CSF-enriched OCBs than the other sibs. Thus a significant proportion of healthy siblings to MS patients have a partially hyperimmune condition similar to that occurring in MS, which in 19% manifested itself as an OCB reaction, in 9% as increased CSF measles IgG antibody titers, and in 21% as increased serum measles IgG antibody titers, these phenomena tending to occur in the same individuals. This condition is characterized by CSF-enriched OCBs with undefined specificity, although some increased antiviral reactivity is found both in the serum and CSF. While it needs further characterization, a genetic trait interacting with common infections is suggested. The recurrence risk of this condition is approximately five times higher than the 3-4% recurrence risk for manifest MS reported for sibs.
immunology
immunology
Antibody Formation
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Multiple Sclerosis
Family Health
Adult
Female
Humans
Case-Control Studies
immunology
immunology
Male
Adolescent
Phenotype
Measles
Autoimmune Diseases
genetics
cerebrospinal fluid
Middle Aged
Immunoglobulin G
Aged
Author
Sara Haghighi
University of Gothenburg
Oluf Andersen
University of Gothenburg
Lars Rosengren
University of Gothenburg
Tomas Bergström
University of Gothenburg
Jan Wahlström
University of Gothenburg
Staffan Nilsson
University of Gothenburg
Department of Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics
Journal of Neurology
0340-5354 (ISSN) 14321459 (eISSN)
Vol. 247 8 616-22Subject Categories
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
PubMed
11041329