[Neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cervical spondylosis and ossification of posterior longitudinal ligaments].

We examined the levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 39 cases of cervical spondylosis (CS), in 16 cases of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligaments (OPLL), and in 29 control subjects by means of highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay methods. The levels (mean +/- SD) of NSE and S-100 protein in the control subjects, CS cases, and OPLL cases were shown as follows: NSE = 4.7 +/- 2.1, 8.0 +/- 3.4, 6.0 +/- 3.1 ng/ml, S-100b = 0.42 +/- 0.22, 0.72 +/- 0.40, 0.67 +/- 0.27 ng/ml, respectively. CS patients with a muscle atrophy of upper limbs showed a rise in NSE levels and this was especially seen in cases of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA). There were positive correlations between the distance of the A-P diameters of the spinal canal and the amount of NSE in OPLL cases (r = -0.6915, p less than 0.01). CS patients with severe spinal cord compressions demonstrated by myelo CT showed higher levels of NSE and S-100b. These results suggest that NSE, S-100 protein can be used as reliable markers to evaluate the damage of the spinal cord in CS and OPLL.