An immunochemical study of the proteins in cerebrospinal fluid

Quantitative gel diffusion precipitin techniques make possible rapid estimation of a wide range of serum proteins. We report a study of cerebrospinal fluid proteins using such a technique. The cerebrospinal fluid: serum concentration ratios for seven serum proteins were determined in patients investigated for a wide range of neurological disease. METHODS Cerebrospinal fluid was obtained by lumbar puncture. Only fluids containing fewer than 100 red blood cells/ c.mm. were studied. The cerebrospinal fluid protein was concentrated by the technique of Grant (1957), in most cases to between 500 and 1,000 mg./100 ml. Cerebrospinal fluids with protein concentrations already in this range were no