Intrathecal immunoglobulins and neurofilament light after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND

Oligoclonal bands (OCB) are widely believed to be stable over time and rarely affected by disease-modifying treatment in MS. It is presently unknown how intrathecal immunoglobulin production and other cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are impacted by a highly efficacious procedure such as autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT).

OBJECTIVE

To describe the evolution of intrathecal immunoglobulin and neurofilament light (NFL) over time in MS patients treated with aHSCT.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, available data from previously made CSF investigations in 46 patients treated with aHSCT were analysed.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up time of 745 days, immunoglobulin G (IgG) OCB remained detectable in 74% of patients, the proportion of patients with a pathological IgG index went down from 70% to 46%, and the proportion of patients with a pathological NFL went down from 72% to 24%. In patients with follow-up time >1500 days, IgG OCB were detectable in 50% of patients, 14% had a pathological IgG index and none a pathological NFL.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrathecal immunoglobulin production and NFL were lower after treatment with aHSCT, decreased over time and were normalised in a significant portion of patients. This challenges the notion that OCB are unaffected by therapeutic intervention in MS.