Oligoclonal band
Oligoclonal Band
Oligoclonal bands (pronunciation: oh-lig-oh-KLOH-nuhl bands) are bands of immunoglobulins that are seen when a patient's blood serum, taken from a venipuncture, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is analyzed. Oligoclonal bands are associated with different diseases, most notably multiple sclerosis (MS).
Etymology
The term "oligoclonal band" is derived from the Greek words "oligos" meaning few, "klonos" meaning twig, and "band" from the Old Norse "band". This term refers to the few bands or lines that appear in an electrophoresis gel during laboratory testing.
Definition
Oligoclonal bands are unique bands of proteins called immunoglobulins that suggest inflammation of the central nervous system. They are an important marker in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis but can also be present in other conditions such as infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.
Clinical Significance
Oligoclonal bands are used in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. The presence of two or more oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid that are not present in the serum can be indicative of multiple sclerosis. However, they can also be present in other conditions such as neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases.
Related Terms
- Immunoglobulins: Proteins that function as antibodies in the immune system.
- Multiple Sclerosis: A chronic disease that affects the central nervous system.
- Venipuncture: The process of obtaining blood from a vein for diagnostic purposes.
- Infectious Diseases: Diseases caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Diseases in which the body's immune system attacks healthy cells.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Oligoclonal band
- Wikipedia's article - Oligoclonal band
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski