muramidase and Encephalitis

Lysozyme activity was assayed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 32 tuberculous meningitis (TBM), 17 bacterial meningitis, 10 partially treated bacterial meningitis, 18 encephalitis and 18 control subjects. The mean CSF lysozyme activity was significantly raised (p < 0.001) in TBM patients compared with other study groups. A cut-off CSF lysozyme level of > or = 26 U/l had a sensitivity and specificity of 93.7 and 84.1 per cent, respectively for the diagnosis of TBM. Overall, it was found to be a better test than any other single test and thus can be used for rapid and early diagnosis of TBM in children.

Topics: Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Encephalitis; Humans; India; Infant; Muramidase; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis, Meningeal

Topics: Cerebral Ventricles; Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; Encephalitis; Humans; Muramidase; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Morphologic changes in cyclophosphamide (CY)-suppressed vs. control non-suppressed new-born rats infected i.c. with XJC13 strain of Junin virus were compared and the cells involved in CNS lesions were identified by the PAP technique. Fifty per cent of the control rats exhibited widespread cerebral necrosis vs. only 15% of the immunosuppressed animals. The first cells to reach Junin virus-infected CNS in controls were T lymphocytes, which destroyed viral antigen-laden target neurons and astrocytes. B lymphocytes and macrophages, presumably attracted by viral antigen and/or by lymphokines, made their appearance a day or two later. Activated macrophages phagocytosed necrotic cells and perhaps exerted a cytotoxic effect upon target neural cells, whereas the actual role of B lymphocytes requires further explanation. In CY-treated rats, cerebral lesions were smaller and the cellular exudate, though similar, proved much scantier than in controls. A similar extent of cerebellar necrosis was observed in both groups.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Viral; Arenaviruses, New World; B-Lymphocytes; Cerebellum; Cerebral Cortex; Cyclophosphamide; Encephalitis; Exudates and Transudates; Hemorrhagic Fever, American; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Macrophages; Mice; Muramidase; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; T-Lymphocytes

A turbidimetric technique has been adapted to yield maximum sensitivity for the measurement of lysozyme in cerebrospinal fluid. One hundred and ninety-eight patients were studied over a total period of 9 months using this technique. In addition to the considerably elevated levels known to occur in cases of bacterial and fungal meningitis, increased activity was also demonstrated in cases of subarachnoid haemorrhage and in certain inflammatory conditions. Normal or marginally increased levels were seen in cases of viral meningitis and encephalitis.

Topics: Bacterial Infections; Encephalitis; Humans; Meningitis; Meningitis, Viral; Muramidase; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; Nervous System Diseases

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