Abstract
concentration of α1-microglobulin (α1-m) in sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) was measured in 121 patients with various neurological disorders. Serum level was determined by single radial immunodiffusion. No significant difference was found between the patients (2.9±0.4mg/dl; Mean±1 S. D.) and normal healthy control group (2.3±0.4mg/dl).The level of α1-m in CSF was determined using radioimmunoassay of solid antibody system.lts CSF level in the control group was 3.48±1.60μg/dl, while it was significantly increased in the patients with viral meningitis (ρ‹0.01) and cerebral infarct (‹0.05).The level was also elevated in some cases of brain tumor, bacterial meningitis, cerebral hemorrhage, cervical spondylosis, and acute lymphocytic leukemia. There was a positive correlation between α1-m and albumin levels in CSF. The analysis by CSF/serum albumin and α1-m ratio suggested that the increase of α1-m in CSF could be explained mainly by an increase in permeabnity of the serum α1-m through damaged brain blood barrier under these pathological conditions. lts local production within the central nervous system, however, could not be ruled out in these disorders.
