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Cerebrospinal Fluid ImmunoglobulinsA Possible Role for Antibody in
Richard D. O'Toole, MD;
George F. Thornton, MD
Arch Neurol. 1971;25(3):218-224.
Abstract
Admission samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with meningococcal, tuberculous, and pneumococcal meningitis were examined for immunoglobulin concentration. The IgG and IgA concentrations were measurable in most cases and were correlated with total CSF protein concentrations; however, there was no correlation between IgM levels and total CSF protein concentrations in pneumococcal meningitis. Thirteen of 17 patients possessing serum antibody to their own strain of pneumococcus and two of 14 without detectable serum antibody were cured (P < 0.01). Antibody to Type I pneumococcal polysaccharide was detected in the CSF of the only one of 17 patients with Type I pneumococcal meningitis who also had serum antibody but no detectable Type I polysaccharide in his CSF. Antibody appearing in CSF of immunized patients may be an important component of the host's defenses in pneumococcal meningitis.
Author Affiliations
Seattle
From the Department of Medicine, University of Washington and the Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital, Seattle (Dr. O'Toole); the departments of medicine and pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (Drs. O'Toole and Thornton); Johns Hopkins University Center for Medical Research and Training (Drs. O'Toole and Thornton), and the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine (Drs. Mukherjee and Neogy), Calcutta.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 16, 1971.
Reprint requests to Department of Medicine, Seattle Veterans Administration Hospital, 4435 Beacon Ave S, Seattle 98108 (Dr. O'Toole).
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