Identification and quantitation of N‐acetylneuraminic acid in human cerebrospinal fluid

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Abstract
The concentrations of free and total sialic acid have been determined in 170 specimens of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by the thiobarbituric acid assay. Concentrations reported are considerably lower than those found in the literature. In the present series, few meaningful correlations between sialic acid level of the CSF and disease state could be made. Significantly high values were found only in the presence of complete spinal fluid block or meningitis. NANA is the form of both the free and the bound sialic acid of human CSF. The nature of free and bound NANA of CSF is discussed.