ArticleDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2020
Kappa Index Versus CSF Oligoclonal Bands in Predicting Multiple Sclerosis and Infectious/Inflammatory CNS Disorders.
Article in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 47 citations in OpenAlex.
- Cerebrospinal fluid kappa free light chains for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) · 2023Pooled it
- The Use of Kappa Free Light Chains to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2022Pooled it
- External validation of KFLC index threshold for multiple sclerosis diagnosis in a French cohort.Journal of neurology · 2026Article
- CSF κ-Free light chain index in suspected multiple sclerosis: diagnostic performance vs. Oligoclonal bands and alignment with 2017/2024 McDonald criteria.Acta neurologica Belgica · 2026Article
- Kappa Index predicts disease activity and transition to high-efficacy therapies in multiple sclerosis.Clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine · 2026Article
- The Kappa Free Light Chains Index in Multiple Sclerosis: From Emerging Evidence to Clinical Application.Journal of neurochemistry · 2026Article
- Beyond oligoclonal bands: the independent role of kappa free light chains in the diagnostic workup of multiple sclerosis.Journal of neurology · 2026Article
- Kappa free light chain index in multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory CNS diseases: a pilot single-center study from Argentina.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Diagnostic value of the kappa free light chain index in multiple sclerosis under the 2024 CSF positivity criterion: a multicentre study in oligoclonal band-negative patients.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Article
- Optimized Kappa-Index Test Protocol to Detect Intrathecal Immunoglobulin Synthesis in Multiple Sclerosis.European journal of neurology · 2025Article
- Relevance of Kappa and Lambda Free Light Chains in Autoimmune Astrocytopathy Associated With Anti-GFAP Antibodies.Annals of clinical and translational neurology · 2025Article
- KFLC to Total CSF Protein Ratio Is an Alternative to KFLC Index to Diagnose Multiple Sclerosis: A Retrospective Study of 814 Cases.Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation · 2025Article
- Real-World Laboratory Analysis of Molecular Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis Centers in Central-Eastern European Countries Covering 107 Million Inhabitants.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Article
- The Kappa Free Light Chains Index and Central Vein Sign: Two New Biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis.Neurology and therapy · 2025Review
- Fluid Biomarkers in Demyelinating Spectrum Disorders: Past, Present, and Prospects.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- CSF biomarkers of B-cell activation in multiple sclerosis: a clinical perspective.Journal of neurology · 2025Review
- Elevated Kappa Index in the Absence of Cerebrospinal Fluid IgG Oligoclonal Bands: Contribution of Intrathecal IgM and IgA Synthesis.Biomolecules · 2025Article
- Kappa Free Light Chains in Multiple Sclerosis as a Marker of Intrathecal Humoral Response: A Sex-Disaggregated Study.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Multiple Sclerosis: From the Application of Oligoclonal Bands to Novel Potential Biomarkers.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Laboratory Diagnosis of Intrathecal Synthesis of Immunoglobulins: A Review about the Contribution of OCBs and K-index.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) kappa free light chains (KFLC) are gaining increasing interest as markers of intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis. The main aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy (AUC) of the kappa index (CSF/serum KFLC divided by the CSF/serum albumin ratio) compared to CSF oligoclonal IgG bands (OCB) in predicting Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or a central nervous system infectious/inflammatory disorder (CNSID).
methodsWe enrolled patients who underwent a diagnostic spinal tap throughout two years. KFLC levels were determined using a Freelite assay (Binding Site) and the turbidimetric Optilite analyzer.
resultsOf 540 included patients, 223 had a CNSID, and 84 had MS. The kappa index was more sensitive (0.89 versus 0.85) and less specific (0.84 versus 0.89), with the same AUC (0.87) as OCB for MS diagnosis (optimal cut-off: 6.2). Adding patients with a single CSF IgG band to the OCB-positive group slightly increased the AUC (0.88). Likewise, the kappa index (cut-off: 3.9) was more sensitive (0.67 versus 0.50) and less specific (0.81 versus 0.97), with the same AUC (0.74) as OCB, for a CNSID diagnosis.
conclusionThe kappa index and CSF OCB have comparable diagnostic accuracies for a MS or CNSID diagnosis and supply the clinician with useful, complementary information.
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Registered trials
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