Oligoclonal bands: An immunological and clinical approach

Oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) represent an indicator of IgG and IgM immunoglobulins intrathecal synthesis in the central nervous system (CNS). The techniques and detection methods for their determination have evolved from the beginning to isoelectric focusing on an agarose gel as the gold standard technique and immunodetection as the reference method. The evolution, both in techniques and methods for detection of IgG and IgM OCBs is evaluated in this review. In addition to the significance of the presence of a single band of IgG immunoglobulin in CSF, IgG OCBs within the diagnostic criteria of multiple sclerosis (MS), the prevalence of IgG OCBs and the effect of latitude in MS, as well as the clinical and immunological involvement of OCBs (IgG and IgM) in MS and other neurological diseases.