Myelin basic protein in the CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis and various neurological diseases.

We tested 104 patients for myelin basic protein (MBP) content in the CSF. Of these subjects 14 were selected as control group, 36 were affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), 14 by optic neuritis (ON) and 42 presented other not primarily demyelinating neurological diseases (ND ND). CSF MBP level was significantly higher in the MS group than in the other groups of patients, while no statistical difference was found between the MS patients with acute exacerbation and those in remission.