J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1991 Mar;9(1):32-38.

Ferritin Level Cereberospinal Fluid in Patients with Tuberculdus Meningitis

• Shin DJ
• Chung KC
• Kim MH

Abstract

By means of a sensitive radioirnrnunoassay method,ferritin was assessed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 50 hospitalized subjects to evaluate its potential value for the diagnosis of tuberculous rneningititis. The rnean ferritin value obtained in the controls was 4.29ng /rnl with ranging between 1.7 and7.4ng/rmL The differences of CSF ferritin content between controls and patients with aseptic rneningitis as well as other non-infectious neurologic disorder were not significant. But rnarked elevation ranging 14 and 88ng/rnl (rnean, 37.4ng/rnl) were observed in patients with tuberculous rneningitis. And the ratio of CSF ferritin to serum ferritin in paients with tuberculous rneningitis was elevated significantly rnore than those in other groups inculuding controls, patients with aseptic rneningitis and other non-infectious neurologic disorder. The level in the serurn and CSF were independent, but that in CSF correlated vrith its total protein content. Results of this study suggest rneasuring CSF ferritin level are a valuable adjunct in differentiating aseptic meningitis from uncomplicated tuberculous meningitis.

MeSH Terms

Cerebrospinal Fluid
Diagnosis
Ferritins*
Humans
Meningitis*
Meningitis, Aseptic
Nervous System Diseases
Tuberculosis, Meningeal
Ferritins