Intrathecal immunoglobulins and neurofilament light after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Oligoclonal bands (OCB) are widely believed to be stable over time and rarely affected by disease-modifying treatment in MS. It is presently unknown how intrathecal immunoglobulin production and other cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are impacted by a highly efficacious procedure such as autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT). Objective: To describe the evolution of intrathecal immunoglobulin and neurofilament light (NFL) over time in MS patients treated with aHSCT. Methods: In this retrospective study, available data from previously made CSF investigations in 46 patients treated with aHSCT were analysed. Results: After a median follow-up time of 745 days, immunoglobulin G (IgG) OCB remained detectable in 74% of patients, the proportion of patients with a pathological IgG index went down from 70% to 46%, and the proportion of patients with a pathological NFL went down from 72% to 24%. In patients with follow-up time >1500 days, IgG OCB were detectable in 50% of patients, 14% had a pathological IgG index and none a pathological NFL. Conclusions: Intrathecal immunoglobulin production and NFL were lower after treatment with aHSCT, decreased over time and were normalised in a significant portion of patients. This challenges the notion that OCB are unaffected by therapeutic intervention in MS.