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Intrathecal IgM production at clinical onset correlates with a more severe disease course in multiple sclerosis
  1. P Perini1,
  2. F Ranzato1,
  3. M Calabrese1,
  4. L Battistin2,
  5. P Gallo1
  1. 1Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Padova, Padova, Italy
  2. 2IRCCS San Camillo, Lido di Venezia, Italy
  1. Correspondence to:
 Professor Paolo Gallo
 Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 1 Padova 35128, Italy; paolo.gallo{at}unipd.it

Abstract

The intrathecal synthesis of IgM, determined at clinical onset in patients with multiple sclerosis, was found to correlate with the degree of disability (as evaluated by means of the Expanded Disability Status Scale) reached 15 years later (p<0.001). Moreover, a significant inverse correlation was observed between the value of the IgM index and time to the first relapse (p<0.001) and the initiation of the progressive phase of the disease (p = 0.01). The prognostic value of IgM in the CSF is confirmed in previous reports as well as by our study. If these findings are confirmed in patients with multiple sclerosis in a larger series, a helpful biological marker for selecting patients for immunomodulatory treatments will be available to neurologists.

  • EDSS, Expanding Disability Status Scale

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Footnotes

  • PP and FR contributed equally to the study.

  • Competing interests: None declared.

  • Published Online First 30 March 2006