AUTOLYSIS IN NORMAL AND PATHOLOGICAL CEREBROSPINAL FLUIDS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Variations in acid soluble inorganic phosphorus concentration of some 850 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were assayed before and after incubation, under sterile and standardized conditions. These phosphorus changes are the consequences of interaction of enzymes and phosphorus-containing organic material present in the CSF. Characteristic patterns were noted in the different etiological groups. Normal CSF exhibited no phosphorus changes after incubation, nor did specimens from neurologically normal persons; exceptions were rare. On the other hand in the CSF of acute bacterial meningitides a great increase of phosphorus was usually evident. No changes were observed in a large number of poliomyelitis specimens. This similarity to normal may be due to quite dissimilar causes. In the syphilis group, a great increase of phosphorus was found in active neurosyphilis. In convulsive disorders, idiopathic epilepsy manifested the highest increase. CSF's of post-traumatic syndrome patients showed uniformly high phosphate release. Brain tumor specimens manifested moderate changes.