Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Diagnostic performance of central vein sign versus oligoclonal bands for multiple sclerosis
Karlo Toljan1,2, Lynn Daboul3,4, Praneeta Raza2
1Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Background:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oligoclonal bands (OCB) are a diagnostic biomarker in multiple sclerosis (MS). The central vein sign (CVS) is an imaging biomarker for MS that may improve diagnostic accuracy.
Objectives:
The objective of the study is to examine the diagnostic performance of simplified CVS methods in comparison to OCB in participants with clinical or radiological suspicion for MS.
Methods:
Participants from the CentrAl Vein Sign in MS (CAVS-MS) pilot study with CSF testing were included. Select-3 and Select-6 (counting up to three or six CVS+ lesions per scan) were rated on post-gadolinium FLAIR* images. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value for Select-3, Select-6, OCB, and combinations thereof were calculated for MS diagnosis at baseline and at 12 months.
Results:
Of 53 participants, 25 were OCB+. At baseline, sensitivity for MS diagnosis was 0.75 for OCB, 0.83 for Select-3, and 0.71 for Select-6. Specificity for MS diagnosis was 0.76 for OCB, 0.48 for Select-3, and 0.86 for Select-6. At 12 months, PPV for MS diagnosis was 0.95 for Select-6 and 1.00 for Select-6 with OCB+ status.
Discussion:
Results suggest similar diagnostic performance of simplified CVS methods and OCB. Ongoing studies will refine whether CVS could be used in replacement or in conjunction with OCB.
