title: Cerebrospinal dehydrogenases in central nervous system infections.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dehydrogenases were studied in 42 controls, 23 children with pyogenic meningitis, 22 with tuberculous meningitis and 19 with encephalitis to assess their usefulness in differentiating between the different central nervous system infections. CSF-LDH and ICD activity was increased in CNS infections (p less than 0.0001), LDH being significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in pyogenic meningitis than in tuberculous meningitis or encephalitis. However, ICD activity was significantly different in each of these conditions (p less than 0.001). The dehydrogenase activity declined with subsequent clinical improvement, in all children with meningitis. A significant direct relationship was found between the enzyme activity and CSF protein content as well as total cell count. The 95% confidence interval confirms the utility of assaying CSF dehydrogenase activity to differentiate various CNS infections, thus improving the diagnostic ability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seth GS Medical College, Bombay.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sheth
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase