title: Nerve growth factor levels in cerebrospinal fluid from patients neurologic disorders.
abstract: Nerve growth factor levels were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid from 73 patients with neurologic disorders and non-neurologic acute illnesses by a two-site enzyme immunoassay. Elevated nerve growth factor levels in cerebrospinal fluid were demonstrated in 2 of 7 patients with bacterial meningitis, 7 of 14 patients with viral meningitis or encephalitis, and 1 with multiple sclerosis. Follow-up examinations of the 3 patients (1 with bacterial meningitis, 1 with viral meningitis, and 1 with multiple sclerosis) at convalescent stage showed diminished nerve growth factor levels in cerebrospinal fluid. None of the other patients showed elevation of nerve growth factor levels in cerebrospinal fluid. Nerve growth factor levels in cerebrospinal fluid were not correlated with cell numbers in patients with meningitis or encephalitis. No relationship was observed between nerve growth factor levels and outcome in patients with viral meningitis or encephalitis and bacterial meningitis. Nerve growth factor in cerebrospinal fluid may play a role in neuronal recovery or function as an immunomodulator in children with inflammatory and immune-mediated neurologic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Neurology, Tottori University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suzaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maegaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeshita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors