Oligoclonal Band versus Chitinase-3-Like Protein-1 in CSF of Newly Diagnosed Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that is usually associated with varying degrees of progressive disability. Chitinase-3-like protein-1 (CHI3L1) has attracted growing attention as a marker of ongoing inflammation and oncogenic transformation. Aim of the Work The aim of this work was to try to assess the diagnostic accuracy of CHI3L1 versus IgG oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in the CSF of newly diagnosed RRMS patients in an attempt to throw light on a new simpler non subjective potential diagnostic marker in MS. Patients and Methods This was a cross-sectional study of MS patients carried at Ain Shams University Hospitals during the period from January 2021 till January 2022. Subjects included in this study were 40 patients diagnosed as having RRMS, on the basis of their MRI findings, clinical presentation and according to the revised McDonald criteria 2017. The group included 10 males and 30 females; their ages ranged from 20 to 45 years. Results We found a significant correlation between CSF CHI3L1 levels and presence of oligoclonal bands, and that a cut off value of 30 ng/ml could be used for diagnosis of MS with sensitivity 84.85% and specificity 85.71%. A highly significant association was also found between CHI3L1 levels in CSF and EDSS score. Conclusion We concluded that there were high levels of CHI3L1 in the CSF of MS patients and there was a significant correlation between CHI3L1 and oligoclonal bands and that CHI3L1 is a promising diagnostic marker of MS.