[Principles for the evaluation and differentiation of single protein findings in the cerebrospinal fluid with the examples of IgG, IgA, IgM and transferrin].

Valuation methods for IgG, IgA, IgM and transferrin in normal and pathologically abnormal CSF samples are described. All proteins were determined by a modified electro-immuno-precipitation technique on cellulose acetate films in CSF which had not been concentrated. The methods for valuating IgG, IgA and transferrin were derived from criteria for the relation between each of the different proteins and the total protein concentration of normal CSF samples. Due to the limits of detection with our equipment, a different evaluation scheme was used for IgM. This was based on the changes in IgM concentration in the CSF which had a total protein content between 500 and 2.500 mg/1. These methods of valuation can be used to interpret changes in the mechanisms of the cerebral barrier function and/or the immunological status of neuropsychiatric diseases.