What does the # Of O-bands mean?

[carrieblackwell77]

Does the number of O-bands found in the CSF on lumbar puncture tests correlate some how with the number of relapses or lesions a person has had?  I'm just curious about this and have been unable to find an answer on my own and thought someone here might know.  I had 5 bands in my initial LP 6 years ago and was just diagnosed a few months ago.  I didn't have the LP repeated so I don't know if the number is different (or if it would be).  I've just always been curious if the number meant anything.

[kwarendorf]

" Nothing with this disease seems to be anything other than vague guesses until you just experience it and see what you end up getting."

BINGO!

[carrieblackwell77]

Huh, interesting.  Thanks guys!  It's just been something I've been curious about for years now, thanks for the information.  It would be too good to be true I guess if it meant anything concrete wouldn't it?  Nothing with this disease seems to be anything other than vague guesses until you just experience it and see what you end up getting.  Thanks for discussing though!

[HVAC]

I do not have relapsing MS. I was only hospitalized in 1965. In fact my MS Specialist said my disease is so mild I do not need to be on a MS Drug.

Alex

[kwarendorf]

Hi Carrie-

My initial o-bands report came back as >5 as well. When I was diagnosed 18 months ago it was determined that I'd had MS for 20 years.

In those twenty years I had 3 relapses. I'm not sure if the # of bands has any predictive value. I've always understood that any o-bands unique to the CSF (typically >5) is a just confirmation of other findings that point to MS.

Kyle

[carrieblackwell77]

Thanks!  That's about the extent of the info I've found too.

Alex- The way your doc explained it was kind of how I had it in my head. Maybe the number doesn't specifically correlate, like 12 bands= 12 relapses or lesions necessarily just a long disease process.

The report from my neuro to my doc said I had more than 5 (no specific number) bands.  Is this a little, medium number or a lot?  I haven't found any kind of info on what is a lot or a little either.  From what Alex said, I'm guessing 12 is a lot since you've had it so bad for so long?

[HVAC]

I was told by my MS Specialist that 0-bands in the CSF never go away.He said in my case they are like tree rings.I my case I had 12 O-bands and had had MS for over 40 years at the time of diagnosis.He said in my case the o-bands and my MRIs pointed to having MS over a life time. Some people with MS have no 0-bands so it is not conclusive. I had my first Neurological episode at age two. I was sent to the Mayo Clinic but in 1965 they did not know a lot about pediatric MS.

Alex

[supermum_ms]

Hi, there is nothing that i've ever found, correlates with the number of relapses a person has and they are all different to each other. There is a lot of MyStery about MS, if you think of people who don't have relapses ie PPMS, they (off the top of my head) usually don't have that many lesions but tend to have a higher numbers of obands than people who do relapse, and some people relapse more frequently than most and have none or only a couple of obands.  

Lesions come and they can also recover, and some are too small to be detected by an MRI but the damage done, is evident in the persons clinical exam. Lesions can also be forming and there are no sx's so no relapses and then one is created in just the wrong location and bam, first (official) relapse but many lesions and the dx of MS is made.

See lots of MyStery about MS

Cheers..........JJ      

[SarahL2491]

ask for a copy of the report, it will show it.  In the US, we are entitled to a copy, whether they want to give it to us or not.  It's not that important, in the scope of things, as long as there are more than two, I think, it is usually indicative of MS.  Although keep in mind that some of us have NO O bands at all.  I for one.

[Corriel]

Hi, I am curious too.  My enuro wouldn't tellme the number of obands. He would only say that I have "multiple".  I asked if it meant that I had MS for a while and he said not necessarily, so I have no idea if that means this has been going on a while or if it's just really inflammatory right now.

I hope someone can answer this for you.

Corrie