CSF neopterin levels in CNS inflammatory diseases

Abstract

We studied neopterin levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 40 control patients without disorders of central nervous system, 13 patients with bacterial meningitis and 18 patients with aseptic meningitis. Neopterin levels in CSF was measured by radioimmunoassay. The CNS neopterin levels of both the patients with bacterial meningitis and the patients with aseptic meningitis were significantly higher (P<0.01) in CSF in comparison with controls. Furthermore, the CSF neopterin levels of the patients with bacterial meningitis was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of the patients with aseptic meningitis. There was no difference between CD 14 positive cell numbers in CSF of bacterial meningitis and aseptic meningitis. But the CSF CD 14 positive cells in CSF from patients with bacterial meningitis produced significantly more neopterin in comparison with those from patients with aseptic meningitis. It is concluded that the CD 14 positive cells in CSF were more activated in bacterial meningitis than in aseptic meningitis.