Hi has anyone who had Lp had first lot of results saying CSF IgG index slightly high .And then got there band results saying posative or negative?
Anybody
Hi Gaz,
im afraid I don’t have the answer for you. I’m still waiting for my appointment date for my LP. I just didn’t want you to think you were being ignored.
Claire x
Sorry, Gaz, I don’t know. All I was told of my LP results was that, whatever they were expecting to find (given that I was already dx, to all intents and purposes) they had in fact found, so my MS dx was now confirmed and watertight. I do not understand anything of the technicalities, I’m afraid.
Alison
Thank you all
When I had my LP done the guy who done it showed me the fluid in the tubes and said “this is a good sign, the fluid looks crystal clear” …he was extremely confident when he said it to me and I believed him, I do not have MS thankfully! I hope you get the answers you’re looking for quickly Gaz…between the devil and the deep blue sea. A virtual hug from me to you and yours
LP oligoclonal bands CSF were positive. Shocked but will I now get a diagnoses
LP oligoclonal bands CSF were positive. Shocked but will I now get a diagnoses
Sorry, no Gaz,
Spinal Tap
A spinal tap (also known as a lumbar puncture) is a procedure whereby a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from close to the spinal cord. At the same time, a blood sample is taken usually from the arm and a quantity of blood serum is isolated. Both of these samples are then processed using a technique called electrophoresis. A positive spinal tap will produce oligoclonal bands in the CSF but not in the blood serum. These bands indicate a type of immune system activity. Although uncomfortable, the spinal tap itself is often not too painful, whereas in the period following the tap, the patient may experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting and severe headaches, occasionally for as much as a week. There are a few rare but serious side-effects of spinal taps. For more information about spinal taps and how to reduce the possibility of some of the more unpleasant side-effects follow this link: Spinal Tap.
95% of people with a definite diagnosis of MS exhibit oligoclonal bands on a spinal tap. This may sound impressive but so do 90% of people with Sub-Acute Sclerosing Panencephalitis and 100% of people with Herpes Simplex Encephalitis among other conditions. Positive spinal taps are indicative of an immunological response but they are not diagnostic for a particular condition. That 5% of PwMS do not exhibit oligoclonal banding means that spinal taps neither rule-in or rule-out MS.
The primary purpose of CSF analysis should be to rule out other conditions than multiple sclerosis. Although they can be highly suggestive of MS, they do not, in themselves, provide a definitive diagnosis.
Before MRI, electrophoresis of spinal fluid played a major role in supporting diagnoses and underpinned the Poser criteria. Now, however, these criteria have become overshadowed by MRI and, if an MRI is positive, the new diagnostic criteria (2001)allow for a definitive diagnosis without laboratory support. The old “Laboratory supported Definite MS” has been dispensed with.
However, CSF analysis technology is still advancing and researchers continue to look for definitive molecular markers of MS. Should they find such a marker, spinal taps will reassume their importance. Other researchers are looking into urine and blood for markers and we can hope that they are successful and spinal taps become completely unnecessary to the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
George