Transferrin allelic variants may cause false positives in the detection of cerebrospinal fluid fistulae.
Variations in either the polypeptide sequence or the carbohydrate moieties of transferrin may result in altered electrophoretic mobility of this molecule. We report a case of an allelic (polypeptide) variant of transferrin with mobility similar to that of the beta 2 (sialic acid-depleted) transferrin found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and a few other body fluids. Allelic variation and other transferrin anomalies may be mistaken for the CSF isoform, resulting in false diagnoses of CSF fistulae.
Sloman
A J
AJ
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213-2538.
Kelly
R H
RH
D000483:Alleles; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008875:Middle Aged; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D014168:Transferrin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics*
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D012794:Sialic Acids; D014168:Transferrin; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid