[The quantitative determination of the individual CSF proteins in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the CNS in children (author's transl)].

Albumin, IgG, IgA, IgM, transferrin, and alpha 1-antitrypsin were determined quantitatively in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 44 healthy children and 37 pediatric patients with central nervous system diseases. Neither IgA nor IgM were found in the CSF of normal children, but they were present in cases of purulent and non-bacterial meningitis. In cases of encephalitis all proteins studied were increased except IgA and IgM, which could not be demonstrated. On the basis of the results it may be concluded that the increase of IgG in the CSF in bacterial and a bacterial meningitis is due to an increased permeability of the blood-CSF barrier. Except in cases with ependymitis, IgG is produced only in small amounts in or near the CSF spaces even in the presence of inflammation of the meninges. The quantitative determination of IgG, IgA, and IgM in case of increased CSF protein content may facilitate the differential diagnosis between purulent and acute viral meningitis and encephalitis.