Cerebrospinal Fluid Oligoclonal Proteins in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

To the Editor.—  According to the studies of others¹ and confirmed by our own technique,² elevated levels of CSF IgG and oligoclonal banding of immunoglobulins are often found in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, progressive rubella panencephalitis, and multiple sclerosis. In each of these illnesses, persistent viral infection and/or dysimmune mechanisms have been implicated. With the rationale that these CSF abnormalities may be markers of such mechanisms, we have examined the CSF of 11 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.IgG levels were determined using CSF immunoelectrophoresis. For protein electrophoresis, CSF was concentrated 50 times with Amicon B15 concentrators. Samples were applied to agarose gel and underwent electrophoresis at 200 V for 45 minutes. Slides were fixed and stained with amido black. Each pattern was read by two investigators.Total protein values ranged from 20 to 66 mg/dl (mean, 47 mg/dl). Ten of 11 patients had normal CSF IgG levels, ranging from