Immunocytochemical analysis of immunoglobulin-containing cells in CSF and blood in inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system.

Cells containing immunoglobulins G, A, and M were evaluated in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB) samples. These were obtained from 12 patients with bacterial meningitis, 14 patients with viral meningitis, 6 cases of lymphocytic meningoradiculitis (LMR), 10 cases of multiple sclerosis (MS), 6 cases of herpes zoster ganglionitis and 27 patients with non-infectious disorders of the CNS. PB cells from 20 healthy donors served as controls. Using alkaline phosphatase (AP)-conjugated antibodies to human immunoglobulin (Ig) G, A, and M in a carrageenan solution it was possible to demonstrate repeatedly intracytoplasmic Igs over more than 1 year without any detectable loss of specificity and staining intensity. Immunoglobulin-containing cells (ICC) could be detected in the CSF of 96% of patients with inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) or with MS but not in the control cases.