Intracytoplasmic immunoglobulin-binding lymphoid cells (IgGLC) of the cerebrospinal fluid in multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders.

A direct immunofluorescence study was performed on cerbro-spinal fluid (CSF) cells of 24 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 26 control patients with other neurological disorders. A significant increase (p less than 0.01) of the percentage of lymphoid cells with intracytoplasmic IgG (IgGLC) was found in a group of 20 IgG tested MS cases as compared to a control group of 22 IgG tested patients. However, the statistical significance was lost when the same MS group was compared to a group of 10 neurological diseases with supposed immunopathological mechanisms. An increase of the percentage of the IgA-containing cells was also found in some cases of MS. A good relationship appeared between the increase of IgGLC cells and the presumed intrathecal secretion of immunoglobulins as assessed on the protein composition of the CSF. This technique might be of some value in the diagnosis of MS.