Relation between cerebrospinal fluid oxidative stress biomarkers and intrathecal Ig synthesis in multiple sclerosis

Introduction: Oxidative stress has been implicated in disease progression and central nervous system (CNS) tissue damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may be related to CNS inflammation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate if cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) oxidative stress biomarkers (advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and ferric reducing ability (FRA)) could be related to intrathecal IgG or IgM synthesis in MS patients. Material and methods: 54 consecutively admitted patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) suggestive of MS or with MS were included. CSF samples collected at time of diagnosis were evaluated for physicochemical analysis, presence of oligoclonal Ig bands, AOPP and FRA levels. Results: Oligoclonal intrathecal Ig bands were found in 100% of patients (2 subjects presented only 1 oligoclonal band). In 11 patients intrathecal IgM synthesis was detected. No relation was found between CSF AOPP levels or CSF FRA values and number of oligoclonal IgG bands (pvalues 0.3 and 0.6, respectively). No difference in CSF AOPP levels or CSF FRA values was observed between patients with intrathecal IgM synthesis and those without IgM synthesis. Conclusions: Our results seem to indicate that CSF oxidative stress biomarkers are not related to intrathecal Ig synthesis.