Prednisone effects on blood-brain barrier permeability and CNS IgG synthesis in healthy humans.
Corticosteroids reportedly decrease blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and/or IgG synthesis in patients with multiple sclerosis or brain tumors. However, these effects have not been studied in healthy humans. We investigated the effects of prednisone, 80 mg/day for five days, on the ratio of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) albumin/serum albumin, a measure of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and on CSF and serum IgG levels in six healthy, normal volunteers. We found significant steroid-induced decreases in serum and CSF albumin levels and in serum IgG levels. However, we found only a nonsignificant decrease in BBB permeability and no significant change in CNS IgG synthesis. These findings, based on a small number of volunteers, suggest that it may be difficult to further decrease BBB permeability and CNS IgG synthesis in medically healthy subjects.
Wolkowitz
O M
OM
University of California, Department of Psychiatry, San Francisco.
Papadopoulos
N M
NM
Costello
R
R
Breier
A
A
Doran
A R
AR
Pickar
D
D
Rubinow
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000418:Albumins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
D000418:Albumins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin; D011241:Prednisone