Multiple sclerosis: assay of free immunoglobulin light chains

Abstract

Over the past five years, a number of papers have appeared describing the assay of free immunoglobulin light chains in cerebrospinal fluid to assist in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The assay of kappa free immunoglobulin chains is being advocated as a technically simpler and cheaper quantitative alternative to the qualitative detection of oligoclonal bands. This article reviews the analytical and clinical characteristics of these immunoglobulin free light chain assays and places them in their historical context and possible future developments.