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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Oligoclonal IgM bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with relapsing MS to inform long-term MS disability
Rocco Capuano1, Irati Zubizarreta2, Salut Alba-Arbalat3
1Center of Neuroimmunology and Department of Neurology, Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases group (ImaginEM), Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Background:
Prognostic markers are needed to guide multiple sclerosis (MS) management in the context of large availability of disease-modifying drugs (DMDs).
Objective:
To investigate the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers to inform long-term MS outcomes.
Methods:
Demographic features, IgM index, oligoclonal IgM bands (OCMB), lipid-specific OCMB, CSF neurofilament light chain protein levels, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), relapses and DMD use over the study period and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thicknesses in non-optic neuritis eyes (end of follow-up) were collected from relapsing MS (RMS) patients with CSF obtained ⩽2 years after MS onset prospectively followed at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. We assessed associations between CSF markers and MS outcomes using multivariable models.
Results:
A total of 89 patients (71 females; median 32.9 years of age) followed over a median of 9.6 years were included. OCMB were associated with a 33% increase in the annualized relapse rate (ARR; p = 0.06), higher odds for high-efficacy DMDs use (OR = 4.8; 95% CI = (1.5, 16.1)), thinner pRNFL (β = -4.4; 95% CI = (-8.6, -0.2)) and GCIPL (β = -2.9; 95% CI = (-5.9, +0.05)), and higher rates to EDSS ⩾ 3.0 (HR = 4.4; 95% CI = (1.6, 11.8)) and EDSS ⩾ 4.0 (HR = 5.4; 95% CI = (1.1, 27.1)). No overall associations were found for other CSF markers.
Conclusion:
The presence of OCMB was associated with unfavorable long-term outcomes. OCMB should be determined in RMS to inform long-term prognosis.
