[Local production of oligoclonal immunoglobulin in the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis in the light of quantitative and qualitative studies of cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobins].

The paper contains the results of qualitative and quantitative immunoglobulin (Ig) determinations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in multiple sclerosis (m.s.) and their evaluation in the aspect of the significance of local production and oligoclonal character of Ig in the pathogenesis of m.s. A statistically significant rise was found in the absolute and relative levels of IgG and IgA with an evident rise in the IgM level and IgG ratio values. The oligoclonal character of CSF Ig in electrophoresis in agar or agarose was evident in 84% of m.s. cases, and also in a limited number of cases of other central nervous system diseases. Abnormal ratio of kappa/lambda light globulin chains was found exclusively in investigations of CSF from m.s. cases--in 52% of cases, and in one case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The author concludes that in most m.s. cases local production of oligoclonal Ig takes place within the CNS, but the mechanisms determining local selection of a limited number of cell clones in this disease are not known. It may be supposed that an action of external factor(s) on the immune system in the period preceding the appearance of clinical manifestations of the disease may be of decisive significance for the oligoclonal character of Ig in this disease.