title: Immunoreactive IFN-gamma in CSF in neurological disorders.
abstract: Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) was measured in the CSF of neurological patients using a highly specific and sensitive immunoradiometric assay. It was detected in 52% of patients presenting as suspected meningitis or encephalitis and in 83% with proven viral meningitis. In contrast IFN-gamma was detected in only 26% of patients who did not have an acute infection at the time of presentation. Only 15% of patients with multiple sclerosis had detectable CSF IFN-gamma. The presence of IFN-gamma in CSF in response to acute viral infections of the central nervous system may be of importance in relation to the pathophysiology of immunologically mediated neurological disorders.
mesh_terms: D004660:Encephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma