Absence of latitudinal gradient in oligoclonal bands prevalence in Argentina

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders 2020-11, Vol.46, p.102582-102582, Article 102582
• Main Authors: Negrotto, Laura, Marrodan, Mariano, Fiol, Marcela P., Gaitán, María I., Ysrraelit, María C., Vrech, Carlos, Pappolla, Agustín, Miguez, Jimena, Patrucco, Liliana, Cristiano, Edgardo, Rojas, Juan I., Carrá, Adriana, Chertcoff, Aníbal, Steinberg, Judith, Martinez, Alejandra D., Curbelo, María C., Cohen, Leila, Alonso, Ricardo, Garcea, Orlando, Pita, Cecilia, Silva, Berenice, Luetic, Geraldine, Deri, Norma, Balbuena, María E., Tkachuk, Verónica, Carnero Contentti, Edgar, Lopez, Pablo A., Pettinicchi, Juan Pablo, Caride, Alejandro, Burgos, Marcos, Leguizamon, Felisa, Knorre, Eduardo, Piedrabuena, Raúl, Barboza, Andrés, Liwacki, Susana, Nofal, Pedro, Volman, Gabriel, Alves Pinheiro, Amelia, Hryb, Javier, Tavolini, Darío, Blaya, Patricio, Recchia, Luciano, Mainella, Carolina, Kohler, Matías, Kohler, Eduardo, Blanche, Jorge, Tizio, Santiago, Saladino, María L., Caceres, Fernando, Fernández Liguori, Nora, Lazaro, Luciana, Zanga, Gisela, Parada Marcilla, Marcela, Fracaro, María E., Pagani Cassara, Fátima, Vazquez, Guido, Sinay, Vladimiro, Sgrilli, Gustavo, Divi, Pablo, Jacobo, Miguel, Silva, Emanuel, Reich, Edgardo, Cabrera, Lorena M., Menichini, María L., Coppola, Mariano, Martos, Iván, Viglione, Juan Pablo, Jose, Gustavo, Bestoso, Santiago, Manzi, Rubén, Giunta, Diego, Doldan, María. L., Alonso Serena, Marina, Correale, Jorge
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Argentina - epidemiology; Clinically isolated syndrome; Epidemiology; Humans; Isoelectric Focusing; Latitudinal gradient; Multiple Sclerosis; Oligoclonal Bands; Prevalence; Radiologically isolated syndrome
• ISSN: 2211-0348; 2211-0356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102582

•OCB positivity is lower in MS, CIS and RIS patients from Argentina compared to other world regions, such as Europe and North America.•As with MS prevalence, OCB positivity does not follow a latitudinal gradient in Argentina.•The lower OCB positivity and absence of latitudinal gradient in Argentina are probably due to differential environmental and genetic/ethnic factors in our population.•Information from different regions, such as latin America, is relevant to understand the regional differences in MS. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these differences is crucial to comprehend MS pathophysiology. Background: Like MS prevalence, oligoclonal bands (OCB) frequency seems to follow a latitudinal gradient. Argentina is extensive, latitude-wise, and previous studies have not found an MS prevalence latitudinal gradient. Our aim is to describe OCB prevalence in MS, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) patients included in the Argentinean MS and NMOSD registry (RelevarEM) and to investigate if it follows a latitudinal gradient. Methods: For each province, an average latitude was calculated, and OCB frequency was investigated. Multivariate logistical regression analysis and linear correlation were performed. Statistical analysis was repeated after excluding patients from centers using isoelectric focusing (IEF) in less than 95% of patients (CwIEF