Myelin basic protein autoantibodies, white matter disease and stroke outcome

Antibodies to brain antigens are present in stroke survivors. In this study, we assessed autoantibody responses to white matter antigens, their correlation to white matter disease and stroke outcome. Antibody titers (immunoglobulin G [igG]) to myelin basic protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP) and tetanus toxoid (TT) were available at one or more time points for 112 subjects with ischemic stroke. In comparison to the control subjects (N = 40), there was a global decrease in IgG titers to TT early after stroke. Patients with white matter disease on magnetic resonance imaging had elevated titers of antibodies to both MBP and PLP at 30 days after stroke, and anti-MBP antibodies were associated with worse outcome. The potential pathologic consequences of antibodies to white matter, especially MBP, is deserving of further investigation.