1. IgG intrathecal synthesis and specific antibody index in patients with neurocysticercosis.
- Author
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Machado LR, Livramento JA, Vaz AJ, Bueno EC, Mielli SR, Bastouly V, and Nobrega JP
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin G blood, Immunoglobulin G cerebrospinal fluid, Leukocytosis cerebrospinal fluid, Male, Middle Aged, Neurocysticercosis blood, Neurocysticercosis cerebrospinal fluid, Prospective Studies, Syndrome, gamma-Globulins cerebrospinal fluid, Immunoglobulin G biosynthesis, Neurocysticercosis immunology
- Abstract
Unlabelled: We analyzed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood serum from 55 patients with neurocysticercosis (NC) at different clinical stages. According to inflammatory activity in the CSF, three stages were identified: (1) reactive, when there was at least an increase in the number of cells; (2) weakly reactive, when significant alterations were found in the CSF, including an increase in gamma globulins, albeit without hypercytosis; (3) non-reactive, when there was neither hypercytosis nor increase in gamma globulins. Nineteen patients had the reactive form; 18 had the weakly reactive form; 18 displayed the non-reactive form. Local immunoproduction was intense in the reactive group, moderate in the weakly reactive group, and absent in the non-reactive group. The specific antibody index was raised in approximately 2/3 of patients with the reactive form, 2/3 in those with the weakly reactive form, and 1/3 in those with the non-reactive form., In Conclusion: (1) the classical CSF syndrome in NC can present both in complete and partial modes; (2) local immunoproduction can occur in weakly reactive forms; (3) a raised specific antibody index can occur in the absence of an inflammatory reaction in the CSF.
- Published
- 2002
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