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The demonstration of intrathecal IgG synthesis has been used as an important laboratory parameter to support the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis(MS). The Committee for European Concerted Action for Multiple Sclerosis has recommended a protocol for the assessment of intrathecal IgG synthesis. We applied this methodology to determine the cerebrospinal (CSF) profile of 128 Brazilian patients with MS. We detected hypercytosis lower than 35 cells/mm3 in 97%, protein lower than 80mg/dl in 99%, normal blood-CSF barrier function in 76%, increased IgG local production around 53% and oligoclonal IgG bands by isoelectric focusing in 85% of the definite MS patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the quantitative analysis was lower than the qualitative. The detection of oligoclonal bands was especially important in the cases of normal quantitative assays of IgG. In addition, we found a lower frequency of inflammatory reaction in CSF in our MS cases, in comparison to some European studies.

Aspectos clínicos e demográficos de 86 pacientes com o diagnóstico de esclerose múltipla (EM) forma clinicamente definida foram comparados aos achados do líquido cefalorraqueano. Do grupo total 30% encontrava-se em surto, 41% em remissão e 29% na forma crônica progressiva. Os pacientes com a forma crônica progressiva apresentavam índice de IgG sugestivo de imunoliberação intratecal em 76% dos casos, enquanto que aumento deste parâmetro foi observado em apenas 46% e 49%, das formas em surto e remissão, respectivamente (p