LASER NEPHELOMETRIC EVALUATION OF ALBUMIN, IGG AND ALPHA(2)-MACROGLOBULIN - APPLICATIONS TO THE STUDY OF ALTERATIONS OF THE BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER

Cerebrospinal fluid and serum levels of albumin, immunoglobulin G and ?2-macroglobulin were determined by laser nephelometer in various pathological conditions: Guillain-Barré syndrome amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, lumbar disc herniation. These proteins are different due to their molecular weight, spacial conformation, CSF and serum concentrations and their CSF/serum quotient reflects the status of the blood-brain barrier. In the subjects group comparisons, albumin quotient and IgG quotient show a significant differentiations. The linear regression of albumin quotient compared to ?2-macroglobulin quotient behaves differently in the individual groups. The protein CSF/serum quotients are helpful in distinguishing the causes of alterations in the blood-brain barrier.