Measurement and diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid enzymes.

The diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) enzyme activities in neurological disorders has been evaluated most extensively with the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) and lysozyme. Methods use for performing the assays have been similar to those employed for serum analysis. Reference intervals for these enzymes in the CSF are given from several sources and demonstrate much lower activities than in serum. Studies of these CSF enzymes in cerebral infarction, brain tumors, central nervous system (CNS) infections and acute brain injury and reviewed.