Immunoglobulins and virus-specific antibodies in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
OBJECTIVE
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pattern in patients with neuropathologically diagnosed Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was analyzed.


METHODS
Routine tests included white blood cells count, protein, albumin, immunoglobulins and the presence of oligoclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the CSF as well as the calculation of intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins by standard methods. In addition, antibodies against neurotropic viruses such as measles, rubella, varicella zoster and herpes simplex were measured and the specific antibody index was calculated.


RESULTS
A blood-CSF barrier dysfunction was observed in six of 25 cases. In CSF/serum quotient diagrams, no patient had intrathecally synthesized immunoglobulins, but in two of 25 patients oligoclonal bands were detected. Two patients had intrathecally synthesized antibodies against varicella zoster and three against herpes simplex virus.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, in the routine diagnosis, the CSF in CJD is normal in most cases. In some patients, abnormalities include the blood-CSF barrier dysfunction, mild pleocytosis, oligoclonal bands and intrathecally synthesized viral antibodies.
Jacobi
C
C
Department of Neurology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Arlt
S
S
Reiber
H
H
Westner
I
I
Kretzschmar
H A
HA
Poser
S
S
Zerr
I
I
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D043025:Oligoclonal Bands