Table 1. Oligoclonal Frequency.

	No ASCT	Pre-ASCT	ASCT	Post-ASCT
Patients	68	NA	159	NA
Observations - N	816	394	2,129	1,735
Patients with oligo	6 (8.8%)	5	95	92* (57.9%)
Observations with oligo	18	13	348	335

In 227 patients the relevant data regarding SPEP/SIFE and SFLCA were available. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was carried out in 159 patients. At least three observations were available in all patients and in the ASCT patients, at least two observations were available following stem cell transplantation. The frequencies of oligoclonal pattern in patients without ASCT, prior to ASCT, and following ASCT are given. The incidence of oligoclonal pattern was markedly and significantly higher after ASCT. *Three patients had oligoclonal l pattern before ASCT but not after transplantation. The frequency of oligoclonal pattern was significantly higher following ASCT than that observed without ASCT (P = 0.000003).