title: Serum and CSF immunological findings in ALS.
abstract: Serum and CSF immunological findings were analysed in 37 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS patients had significantly higher mean values of serum IgG and complement component C4 and significantly lower mean value of total haemolytic titre of complement (THC) compared with normal controls. Incidence of immune complexes (ICs) was significantly higher in sera of ALS patients than in normal controls. There was no significant difference regarding mean serum levels of IgM, IgA, and complement components C3 and Factor B between patients and controls. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage was found in 46% of patients. Intrathecal IgG synthesis was detected in six patients (16%). These results support the hypothesis of immune system involvement in ALS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Clinical Centre, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apostolski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nikolić
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bugarski-Prokopljević
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miletić
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavlović
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filipović
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003181:Complement C4; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012709:Serum Albumin