CSF oligoclonal band frequency in a Cuban cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis. comparison with Latin American countries and association with latitude.

Background: The diagnostic sensitivity of CSF specific oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in multiple sclerosis (MS), using state of the art methods, has been clearly established to be over 95% in patients with a predominantly Caucasian background. This is not the case for other geographical regions, where reports of OCB prevalence can be much lower, and a relationship between OCB frequency and latitude has been suggested.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of OCBs in a cohort of MS patients evaluated at the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (Havana, Cuba), and to review the scientific literature in order to investigate the possible relationship between OCB status and latitude in the region of Latin America.

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Associated with Subclinical Vascular Damage Indicators in Asymptomatic Hypertensive Patients.

: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is frequent in patients with cardiovascular risk factors including arterial hypertension, and it is associated with vascular damage in other organs and the risk of stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Early diagnosis of CSVD could prevent deleterious consequences. : To characterize CSVD associated with indicators of subclinical vascular damage in asymptomatic hypertensive patients.