muramidase and Cerebrovascular-Disorders

Lysozyme activity was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 114 patients with inflammatory (bacterial and serous meningitis, polyradiculitis, encephalitis) and non-inflammatory (multiple sclerosis, CNS tumors, cerebral vascular diseases) CNS diseases. Highly elevated values were found consistently in patients with bacterial meningitis. Elevated values were found also in patients with encephalitis, polyradiculitis, multiple sclerosis and CNS tumors, but a considerable overlapping between these groups and normal controls precludes the use of CSF lysozyme measurements as a diagnostic aid in the latter disease groups. Simultaneous measurements of lysozyme, albumin and IgG in CSF and serum suggested that the mechanism for increased CSF lysozyme values in bacterial meningitis is mainly a breakdown of the blood/brain barrier, whereas the increased CSF lysozyme values in the remaining groups of patients are more likely caused by production of lysozyme by cells within the meninges (neutrophilic granulocytes, monocytes?).

Topics: Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Encephalitis; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Meningitis; Multiple Sclerosis; Muramidase; Polyradiculopathy; Serum Albumin

The concentration of lysozyme (LZM) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been studied in 148 patients to evaluate its possible significance in the differential diagnosis of various diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS). In the control group only 3 of 45 patients had detectable LZM in their CSF, the highest value being 1.3 mug/ml. The diabetic and epileptic groups did not differ from the control group. Of 8 patients with primary intracranial tumours, 4 had raised CSF-LZM levels. Twenty of 23 uraemic patients had elevated CSF-LZM, the highest value being 3.3 mug/ml. The highest values were found in patients with bacterial meningitis, tuberculous meningitis and leptomeningitis due to Aspergillus. A positive correlation was found between CSF-LZM and protein concentrations. The measurement of LZM may be of value in the diagnosis of inflammatory processes affecting the CNS and in the diagnosis of certain intracranial tumours.

Topics: Aged; Brain Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Diabetic Neuropathies; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Male; Meningitis; Muramidase

Topics: Acute Disease; Antibodies, Heterophile; Brain; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Complement System Proteins; Hemolysin Proteins; Humans; Immunity; Infarction; Leukocytes; Muramidase; Phagocytosis; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Time Factors

Topics: Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Autoimmune Diseases; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Muramidase; Time Factors

Topics: Antibodies; Arteriosclerosis; Blood Vessels; Brain; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Endarteritis; Humans; Hypertension; Muramidase