Viral antibodies in multiple sclerosis.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Caputo.
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Three different methods were compared to detect an intrathecal IgG synthesis in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Multiple Sclerosis. A preliminary investigation was carried out on serum and cerebrospinal fluid proteins fractionated by means of analytical isotachophoresis. This technique shows many advantages but isoelectrofocusing is still the most available technique in diagnostic trials.
Visual evoked potentials (VEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), E-UFA test and CSF isoelectrofocusing (IEF) were applied to 42 multiple sclerosis patients. VEPs were abnormal in 29 cases. SEPs in 31 cases, E-UFA in 30 cases, CSF IEF in 38 cases. At least two tests were abnormal in 41 out of 42 patients; 16 cases revealed pathological responses in three tests (38,1%), 15 in four of them (35,7%). The authors discuss the value of using several tests in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and emphasize their importance for the purpose of diagnostic classification.
The influence of pregnancy on the course of multiple sclerosis was analyzed in 119 patients who had a pregnancy during the disease. A worsening of the disease and a higher number of relapses were observed in puerperium, whereas pregnancy and the following year were generally characterized by a favorable course. The comparison with a control group did not show significant differences as concerns the invalidity and the mean rate of relapses. The results indicate that pregnancy does not substantially modify the course of the disease.
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The Authors have assayed in this work the antimeasles antibodies in serum and CSF in subject affected by M.S. and controls. The M.S. patients have been subdivided in two groups with and without immunosuppressive therapy. In 27% out of 48 patients production intrathecal antimeasles antibodies was demonstrated.
A blood test for M.S., E-UFA test, was reviewed with statistical analysis. The test was positive in 18 out of 22 M.S. patients, negative in the controls and OND. The results confirm the validity of the test.
In 61 of 300 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, disease onset was retrobulbar optical neuritis. Comparing the clinical data of these patients with those of the remaining 239 cases, the following typical features were observed: in patients with optical neuropathy, disease onset is more frequently acute and course, in the early years of the disease, is in fits and starts. Recurrence frequency is higher in these patients but not significantly so. Prognosis, deduced from the analysis of degrees of invalidity, does not differ substantially between the two groups. Current techniques of diagnosing multiple sclerosis in patients with retrobulbar optical neuritis are also discussed.
Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and electrophoretic mobility test of erythrocytes (E-UFA test) were compared in 50 multiple sclerosis (M.S.) patients as diagnostic tests. Abnormal VEPs were recorded in 35 patients. E-UFA test was found positive in 31 cases. With respect to Mc Alpine diagnostic criteria, 26 out of 33 definite M.S., 6 out of 9 probable M.S. and 3 out of 8 possible M.S. cases had abnormal VEPs. A positive response in E-UFA test was observed rispectively in 16, 8, 7 patients. Complessively 48 cases (96%) had an abnormal response to the one and/or to the other of the two tests, which apper complementar in early diagnosis of M.S.
Retrobulbar optic neuritis, though suspicious is not always considered as a possible onset of MS. For this reason we submitted to the E-UFA (erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acid) test, 41 subjects who suffered from one or several episodes of retrobulbar optic neuritis with no other neurological signs. The test was positive in 14 subjects (34, 1%).
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The authors discuss the effects of a new immunosuppressive agent on the development of EAE. Animals (albino rabbits) were inoculated with an encephalitogenic emulsion, according to Kies' method, whereas a control group was inoculated by a physiological saline solution. Some animals were treated by Oxisuran in the first day after challenge; some others after initial symptoms (18th day). Thirty days after challenge, the animals were sacrificed. No toxicity was found in thoracic and abdominal structures neither in blood count. Pharmacological effectiveness of Oxisuran is well documented either in pretreatment or in therapy; the course was positively influenced in animals, when treated after the appearance of initial symptoms.
The present studies were performed as a result of the report that the human T-cells may be composed of heterogeneous subpopulation in the sense of their ability to bind SRBC. In this paper, the diversity of human peripheral lymphocytes in M.S. patients, other neurological diseases and controls were investigated by means of an interesting approach based on the heterogeneity of humnan T-lymphocytes examined by the rosette formation of SRBC (E rosette) in two different reaction media.
Field et al. have recently suggested a blood test for multiple sclerosis based on determination of the absolute electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes alone and in the presence of linoleic acid (LA) or arachidonic acid (AA). We attempted to reinvestigate this phenomenon in an Italian population.
The Authors research in the sera of 30 rabbits affected by E.A.E. the connection between encephalitogenic factor and rubella virus. They dose the antibodies against rubella virus and encephalitogenic factor before the challenge by BP, after 15 days and after 30 days. While in the first control no response either to the virus or to BP was evidenced, in the two following controls, the sera of the rabbits recognized immunologically both rubella virus and the myelinic components.
A group of 47 patients (multiple sclerosis (M.S.) diagnosed according to Schumacher's criteria) with age at onset over 40 years, was studied by statistical analysis and compared with a control group (100 M.S. patients with onset between ages 18 and 38). The following features appear peculiar in this group: --the most frequent initial symptoms are motor disturbances --the onset is generally monosymptomatic --the course is generally progressive and more severe than that of controls, as seen by Kurtzke's Disability Scale, relapse rate, interval between first and second attack --the course is more severe when the onset is progressive and characterized by motor disturbances.
Many workers claim variations in quantity of functional activity of several components in the complement system in M.S. patients. Studies were performed in 58 M.S. patients, typing for HLA-SD specifities and C'3 complement component. We have been able to confirm a significant correlation between the hypocomplementaemic group (31.03%) with HLA-A3. In this connection we present some considerations on complement system and M.S.
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