RESUMO
AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between IgG index values and the number of the oligoclonal IgG bands (OCB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The set of 150 patients consisted of 41 males and 109 females (aged 18-68, mean 36.6 +/- 10.1 years). The CSF collected by a lumbar puncture was examined evaluating intrathecal synthesis using the IgG index and determining OCB. The number of alkaline OCB in the CSF was assessed using the method of isoelectric focusing. Pearson's correlation analysis, and homogeneity chi(2) test, Mann-Whitney test, paired-sample t-test (parametric) and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test (nonparametric) were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the results. RESULTS: No positive correlation between the IgG index and the number of OCB was found. Mann-Whitney test also failed to demonstrate any significant difference of the IgG index values in patients both with the OCB number > or = 2 and < 2. CONCLUSION: This study did not confirm any correlation between the IgG index values and the OCB number in the CSF of MS patients.