CSF transferrins characterized by the transferrin/albumin index.
Unconcentrated CSF and 200 times diluted serum samples from 192 patients were examined by agar electrophoresis; their albumin and transferrin content were determined simultaneously by radial immunodiffusion. Using the data on transferrin and albumin concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, the transferrin/albumin index was calculated in a similar way to the IgG/albumin index. Normally the transferrin/albumin index is 1.68 (n = 77; S.D. = 0.22). If the permeability of the blood-CSF barrier increases, the transferrin/albumin index gradually decreases to 1. If the tau-globulin fraction is increased on the agar pherogram, the transferrin/albumin index will be greater than 2.34 (mean + 3 S.D.).
D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D014168:Transferrin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology
D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin