Primary progressive versus relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis: presence and prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal IgM.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oligoclonal IgM (OCIgM) predicting a more aggressive disease course in relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS), while there is a scarcity of data for primary progressive MS (PPMS).

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the presence and possible prognostic value of CSF OCIgM in a group of PPMS and in a group of relapsing-onset MS patients. The possible prognostic role of other clinical and biological factors was also evaluated.

METHODS: We calculated the impact of single clinical and biological factors, including CSF OCIgM at onset, on the probability of reaching an Expanded Disability Status Scale of 3 and 4 in 45 PPMS and 104 relapsing-onset MS patients.

RESULTS: CSF OCIgM were found in only 13% of PPMS patients and did not influence the time taken to reach an Expanded Disability Status Scale of 3 and 4. Conversely, they were present in 46% of relapsing-onset MS patients and increased the risk of reaching an Expanded Disability Status Scale of 4. Clinical factors with a negative prognostic value in PPMS were age at onset <30 years and onset with pyramidal symptoms, while onset with sensory symptoms in relapsing-onset MS predicted a more favourable course.

CONCLUSION: This study confirms that, in relapsing-onset MS patients, the presence of CSF OCIgM at onset predicts a worse disease course. In the cohort of PPMS patients, however, CSF OCIgM were rare, suggesting that heterogeneous pathogenetic mechanisms may be involved in the different MS forms.