Altered white cell count, protein concentration and oligoclonal IgG bands in the cerebrospinal fluid of many patients with acute psychiatric disorders.

In a prospective study, an abnormal white cell count and/or elevated protein concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was observed in 14/54 patients (26%) with acute psychiatric disorders, but in none of the 46 control subjects (p less than 0.001). In addition, electrophoretic analysis of immunoglobulin G (IgG) showed an oligoclonal pattern in the CSF of 22 psychiatric patients (41%). No such pattern could be detected in the control group (p less than 0.001). These findings reinforce the value of lumbar puncture and CSF analysis in acute psychiatric disorders.