Oligoclonal bands in acute schizophrenia: a negative search

Numerous immunologic abnormalities have been reported in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that this disorder may in some cases represent a viral or immunologic disorder of the brain. To further examine this question, evidence for intrathecal production of immunoglobulin (IgG) and immunoglobulin oligoclonal bands (OCB) was sought in patients with acute or early schizophrenia. Using high resolution zone electrophoresis and immunofixation, there was no evidence for intrathecal IgG generation in 5 of 5 patients tested. One of 9 patients had OCBs in CSF. This man, although he had a typical history of schizophrenia, tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus antibody in serum.