title: Albumin quotient, IgG concentration, and IgG index determinations in cerebrospinal fluid of neonatal foals.
abstract: Total protein (TP), albumin, and IgG concentrations were measured in CSF from the atlanto-occipital (AO) and lumbosacral (LS) sites and in serum of 15 clinically normal neonatal foals < or = 10 days old (mean, 7.0 days). The albumin quotient (AQ; CSF albumin/serum albumin x 100) and IgG index ([CSF IgG/serum IgG] x [serum albumin/CSF albumin]), indicators of blood-brain barrier permeability and intrathecal IgG production, respectively, were then calculated. Mean +/- SD values obtained from the foals of this study were: serum albumin, 2,900 +/- 240 mg/dl; serum IgG, 1,325 +/- 686 mg/dl; AO CSF total protein (TP), 82.8 +/- 19.2 mg/dl; LS CSF TP, 83.6 +/- 16.1 mg/dl; AO CSF albumin, 52.0 +/- 8.6 mg/dl; LS CSF albumin, 53.8 +/- 15.7 mg/dl; AO CSF IgG, 10.2 +/- 5.5 mg/dl; LS CSF IgG, 9.9 +/- 5.7 mg/dl; AO AQ, 1.86 +/- 0.29; LS AQ, 1.85 +/- 0.51, AO IgG index, 0.52 +/- 0.28; and LS IgG index, 0.48 +/- 0.27. Significant difference between values for the AO and LS sites was not found. A CSF albumin concentration > 85.2 mg/dl or AQ > 2.4, as determined by mean +/- 2 SD, may indicate increased blood-brain barrier permeability. An IgG index value > 1.0 may indicate intrathecal IgG production. Values obtained for foals of this study should serve as baseline for comparison in the evaluation of blood-brain barrier permeability and intrathecal IgG production in neonatal foals with neurologic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rural Practice, University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville 39701-1071.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Geiser
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sommardahl
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Provenza
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000276:immunology; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012016:Reference Values; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin