title: CSF lysosomal hydrolase activity as an aid in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
abstract: The activity of the lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, alpha-mannosidase and hexosaminidase were determined in CSF obtained from patients with proven bacterial meningitis and from patients with various other diagnoses. The mean value for CSF beta-glucuronidase from bacterial meningitis was elevated 73-fold when compared to the aggregate mean of all control groups. Acid phosphatase and alpha-mannosidase means were 26-fold and 33-fold elevated respectively while hexosaminidase was threefold elevated. Measurement of CSF acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase should prove a rapid useful test in establishing the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Chromatography of CSF samples on DEAE Sephadex allowed the resolution of hexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase into individual isozymes. The ratio of hexosaminidase A to hexosaminidase B was generally higher in CSF from patients with bacterial meningitis but was very variable. The isozyme distribution for beta-glucuronidase was identical to that found in serum and no differences in pattern were found between patients and control subjects.
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008361:Mannosidases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D006867:Hydrolases; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D006596:Hexosaminidases; D008361:Mannosidases; D005966:Glucuronidase