Elevated CSF cyclic AMP concentrations in patients with inflammatory diseases of cerebral and extracerebral origin.

Cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP) concentrations were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from children admitted to the hospital because of suspected meningitis. c-AMP levels were found to be markedly elevated (P < 0.001) during the acute phase of most of the purulent meningitis patients, as well as in patients with acute aseptic meningitis. In convalescent patients after purulent meningitis mean c-AMP concentrations remained elevated (P < 0.01) beyond the normalization of the routine parameters in CSF. In addition, a variety of febrile inflammatory conditions of extracerebral origin produced elevations (P < 0.001) of c-AMP although CSF by routine criteria was normal. The results suggest that c-AMP might serve as a sensitive indicator of transient cellular metabolic disturbance in the brain.