Lysosomal hydrolases in CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis.

The activities of acid phosphatase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase have been measured in 171 samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 104 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. The mean level of activity of these enzymes was lower than of controls. Patients who had the first or second bouts had somewhat higher activity of these enzymes compared to controls. The lowest values of these enzymes were found in patients with severe disability. Patients with late onset of the disease had higher levels of the enzymes compared to patients with an earlier debut of the illness, whereas patients with a short history had higher values than patients with a longer duration.