Here is one link:

http://www.clinlabnavigator.com/olig...ds-in-csf.html

That is the best site I've seen for this! Thanks, MrsD.

But you have to have BOTH serum & CSF results, Mat. Did he run serum labs also...and if so, do they show the same?

Yes I agree it's an excellent site thanks mrs D.

Enbloc my neuro had both serum and Lumbar Puncture done at same time for this purpose. This is why he says I have "paired O bands" - because the bands in my CSF are paired exactly with those in my serum. This is why my GP, rheumy and neuro all say I have rheumatic disease - even though my RA symptoms have gone into hiding.

And presumably this is why I'm not told it's idiopathic or Fibromyalgia or ME. Although I'm asking here because until this last hospital admission no one had explained that this doesn't only rule out MS - it also means something systemic is indicated.

So they know something is going on but just not yet sure exactly what so for now it's called RA rather than Lupus or a type of Vasculitis - because my ANA and ANCA are both negative and I did present with clear synovitis for a few years and have a fluctuating ESR and CRP and raised rheumatoid factor.

But the fact that most of my diverse symptoms are systemic and appear as neurological first and foremost, now baffles everyone. It also means I don't get anymore treatment options until it shows itself, or disappears.

As far as I can tell, pattern 2 is the appropriate class with same number in both serum and CSF...of course this class has the most possible options.

I know you have experienced several infections recently,,,has there been any question of CNS infection (which can show up with class 2 bands)??

What we need here is Glenn!! Let's hope he sees this post tomorrow morning and can shed some light on the topic. I wish there was a way to 'flag' the thread, to make sure he sees it. I'll be watching for him as best i can and ask him to check it. You can also message Glenn your self and ask for his input. Just a thought. I just know we need someone with his experience/knowledge to help sort this out more clearly for you.

Thanks Enbloc - I don't think I've come across Glen yet? Sorry Glen if I have and have forgotten. I rely heavily on another UK based forum for support re connective tissue diseases so can get in a muddle easily. I was told about this forum by someone on there and have learned so much from it but I'm very much an artist rather than a scientist so I'm learning from scratch in my own idiosyncratic way and often fail to grasp the scientific minutaie.

The tap took seven attempts and one lot of CSF was contaminated by trauma, leaving a small amount for these bands. Yes to category two -which is the broadest as you say. I really don't know how my rheumy and neuro can dismiss the idea of lupus or Vasculitis as so unlikely for me but they have spoken to one of the UK's Vasculitis experts so I have to assume it's not some unusual presentation of Behcets.

He did say Scleroderma was much harder to rule out for me because it develops more slowly so wouldn't necessarily make itself clear yet. This is the autoimmune disease I most fear so I really hope I do just have a very unusual presentation of RA as currently diagnosed with. My propensity to drug intollerence is the other main problem I pose re treatment. But I've tolerated (just about) 7 lots of powerful antibiotics this year as well as steroids so I think they are using this to get out of paying for more expensive treatments myself. That said biological therapies make people very vulnerable to infection so maybe they are right to sit back and wait.

--it's been reproduced in a number of places and is probably the best guide, but yes, your result is the most inspecific of the possibilities.

Moreover, it's quite possible that the result in currently influenced by the recent surgery and medical events, and might be different down the road. So I don't know how useful it is for diagnostic purposed right now. And I assume there are no other signs of lymphoproliferative disorders/blood cancers at this point and that you've had enough complete blood counts or even a peripheral blood smear to rule those out, although it's possible there is still an infection ongoing . . .

Wish I could be more helpful, but there's not a lot to go on there--maybe other more specific testing would be more helpful, if they'll do them in London. Look through the Lizajane charts and see what you have and haven't had done:

www.lizajane.org

Thanks - I'm fairly sure that I had no infection going on in January when my neuro tests were done. I was flaring and my ESR was high in the 70s and my body was full of stiffness so I'm not thinking that this would change or be that vague in my case.

The catalogue of infections started in February. It is accepted that I have a systemic autoimmune disease but they just can't decide on which one. Thanks for the link. I might pay to get to look at my own medical records soon too and then i can tick tests abc results off the list.