Quix!!! Can you help with this...

[LATW]

"As compared to the serum, isoelectric focusing immunofixation reveals 14 igG bands that are unique to the CSF. This is consistent with intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulin and is considered to be a positive result for the oligoclonal bands. Oligocolonal bands are present in over 90% of patients with MS."

So my question is Is this saying I have 14 O bands? The nurse told me I had 8. I am just wanting to know what is meant by 14 igG. Does this mean I have 14 O bands?  I read somewhere in my report that my serum had no O bands but I can not find it now.

This sealed my MS diagnosis. Nurse said I have 8 O  bands.  I am not sure how you get 8 O bands out of 14 igG bands. . Either way is 8 or 14 O bands a lot?

LA
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[Quixotic1]

LA - Sounds like the nurse was just plain wrong.  But, there is no implication that 14 O-Bands is any worse than 8.  They are both enough to support the diagnosis.  they speak of a huge amount of immune-inflammation going on in your noggin.

Mary - You and I are thinking alike.  When you make sure not to diagnose anyone without O-Bands, then the only people you see with MS have them.  It truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  I have spoken of the study recently published that looked at a large number of people diagnosed with MS already and found that 10% of them had no O-Bands even well into their illness.

Quix

[twopack]

It sounds to me like this is saying you have 14 UNIQUE O-Bands, without stating how many total there may be been.  I thought from reading past explanations that O-Bands unique to the CSF were the only ones that mattered for a MS diagnosis and 14 is more than enough, even when you don't hold the mayo.

What I always wonder about is the 90 or 95% of MS patients are positive for O-Bands statement.  It seems like a self-fulfilling percentage to me.  If doctors won't/can't diagnosis without, then the % stays high, despite many negative reports.

Mary

[LATW]

This is the same LP I posted about last month.  I read something that brought up the question in my mind again.

It does seem to say I have 14 O bands.  There is an area in my test results that said I had no O bands in my serum BUT I can not find it again.  There are MANY pages of results!!

LA

[tonyad]

   Red did a very good job on trying to explain the results :)
Hope it helped a bit.

~Tonya

[RedFlame]

I'm no Q. but 8-14 O-bands would certainly be a goodly amount.  14 bands that are unique definatley means they are all different than the blood serum.

Did you have an LP earlier that showed 6 bands and now show 14 maybe.  So the nurse is saying that you have 8 new ones?

Just a thought.  I'm sure Q will chime in though

Red