Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum CEA Concentration in Non-neoplastic Diseases.
BACKGROUND
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is important for the diagnosis of meningeal carcinomatosis. Its relationship with CSF and serum in non-neoplastic diseases may be beneficial for earlier diagnosis and treatment.


METHODS
CSF samples were obtained from 346 non-neoplastic inpatients. Among them, 238 pairs of CSF and serum were obtained and compared. The 97.5(th) percentile and maximum value of CSF CEA were obtained.


RESULTS
The 97.5(th) percentile and maximum value of CSF CEA concentration for overall participants were 0.529 and 2.340 µg/L, respectively. The ratio of CEA level (CSF/serum) was from 0.017 to 1. CSF CEA concentration was equal to the simultaneous serum concentration only in 0.84% (2/238) and no higher than simultaneous serum CEA concentration was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The value determined in this study of CSF CEA is significantly lower than that usually used in clinical practice. CSF CEA concentration higher than the simultaneous serum CEA concentration suggests abnormal intrathecal CEA secretion.
Department of Neurology, Hainan Branch of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Qiang
Q
Shi
Department of Neurology, Hainan Branch of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Chenglin
C
Tian
Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Xusheng
X
Huang
Department of Neurology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China shiq301@yeah.net.
Chuanqiang
C
Pu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004194:Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Carcinoembryonic antigen; cerebrospinal fluid; meningeal carcinomatosis; serum