14-3-3 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with acute transverse myelitis.

The eventual recovery of patients with acute transverse myelitis is variable and can be difficult to predict on the basis of the presenting clinical and radiographic features. We find that an early accumulation of the 14-3-3 protein occurs exclusively in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients who show little or no recovery of neurological function and therefore could serve as a helpful prognostic indicator in this disorder.