Protein patterns of the cerebrospinal fluid in children with cerebral palsy.

Cerebrospinal fluid in 69 children with cerebral palsy (CP) of different etiology was examined by an improved method of agarose-gel electrophoresis. The protein pattern was normal in 12 cases only. In children with CP caused by congenital and postnatal infections raised psi-globulin fractions and the appearance of oligoclonal phi-globulin bands were the most obvious finding. In patients with CP due to malformations or perinatal brain damage and in children with CP of unknown etiology decreased prealbumin and increased albumin values were combined with hydrocephalus e vacuo in about half of the cases. Less frequent changes of the beta-globulin fractions were found, an increase of the beta-fraction being more rare than a decrease of the tau-globulin.