Monitoring and tentative diagnosis of herpetic encephalitis by protein analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. Particular relevance of the assays of ferritin and S-100.
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 9 patients with herpetic encephalitis was analyzed by particle counting immunoassay of ferritin, S-100, immunoglobulins, anti-herpes antibodies and immune complexes and by electrophoresis for the detection of oligoclonal bands. The main conclusions are: first, the simultaneous increase of both ferritin and S-100 in the presence of symptoms of encephalitis suggests strongly the infection is herpetic; second, high and increasing levels of S-100, probably related to the extent of the necrotic process, indicate a poor prognosis. In addition, 8-14 days after onset, locally produced anti-herpes antibodies were detectable, the IgG index increased and oligoclonal bands became visible.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D011379:Prognosis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands; D009418:S100 Proteins; D005293:Ferritins