wow - testing tears for ms study /compared to csf

October 2, 2001

this research pleases me in potential for acm /sm folks who have suspected ms

....it may well eliminate those lumbar puncture risks we have long term ...

that said , I'll also add I had punctures done without complecations three

times ...the last done with precautions the asap medical board helped me by

sugesting ...none were terribly painful but the fear of further herniation

was a concern for me .

J Neurol 2001 Aug;248(8):672-5

Silver stained isoelectrophoresis of tears and cerebrospinal fluid in

multiple sclerosis.

Devos D, Forzy G, de Seze J, Caillez S, Louchart P, Gallois P, Hautecoeur P

Service de Neurologie Hjpital St Philibert GHICL, Lomme, France.

[Medline record in process]

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis aids in the diagnosis of multiple

sclerosis. However, this examination is invasive. The aim of this study was

to assess the potentials of a new method of tears isoelectrophoresis (IEF).

Silver staining of IEF was used to examined tears and CSF from 123 patients

including 60 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 50 other neurological

patients and 13 patients with inflammatory neurological diseases. Tears were

collected on a Shirmer strip placed in one eye, avoiding reflex secretion.

This method of IEF with silver staining allowed the detection of oligoclonal

bands in tears that were truly immunoglobulin G on immunofixation. The

concordance rate between tears and CSF was 83%, meaning that CSF provided no

more information than tears analysis in 83% of cases. Sensitivity in tears

(72%) and CSF (75%) was very close as was specificity (respectively 84 % and

86 %). High concordance between tears and CSF is the first step in developing

a non invasive test which could replace lumbar puncture, particularly when

this procedure is not fearalele or is refused by the patient.

PMID: 11569895, UI: 21451729

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