TY - JOUR T1 - A study of oligoclonal band negative multiple sclerosis. JF - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry JO - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry SP - 27 LP - 30 DO - 10.1136/jnnp.60.1.27 VL - 60 IS - 1 AU - A Z Zeman AU - D Kidd AU - B N McLean AU - M A Kelly AU - D A Francis AU - D H Miller AU - B E Kendall AU - P Rudge AU - E J Thompson AU - W I McDonald Y1 - 1996/01/01 UR - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/60/1/27.abstract N2 - OBJECTIVES--To determine whether oligoclonal band (OCB) negative multiple sclerosis is a reliable diagnosis and, if so, whether it has a distinctive prognosis. METHODS--Retrospective and matched prospective comparison of the clinical and laboratory features of patients with clinical definite multiple sclerosis with and without intrathecal synthesis of oligoclonal IgG. RESULTS--Thirty four patients were identified with apparent OCB negative clinically definite multiple sclerosis. The results of oligoclonal banding proved to have been equivocal in 14 of 34; the clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was questionable in 8 of 34. The remaining 12 patients with "true" OCB negative multiple sclerosis were significantly less disabled than matched OCB positive controls. Re-examination of CSF-serum pairs from six OCB negative patients showed that three remained OCB negative while three showed evidence of intrathecal synthesis of OCBs. CONCLUSIONS--OCB negative clinically definite multiple sclerosis is rare and should be diagnosed with caution; in unequivocal cases it seems to have a relatively benign prognosis. ER -