Investigations on enzyme activity in the serum and CSF of patients with neuromuscular diseases.

The CPK, aldolase, GOT, GPT, and LDH concentrations in the serum and lumbar CSF of 80 patients with neuromuscular diseases and 20 controls were measured. The value obtained in serum was essentially in agreement with the data in the literature. This is the first publications reporting on regular CSF enzyme examinations in different neuromuscular disorders, particularly the results obtained in neurogenic muscular atrophies, which have certain characteristic features. The LDH activity in CSF was decreased in peroneal muscular atrophy, the GPT concentration in CSF was elevated in spinal muscular atrophy, and the mean activity of CSF aldolase was increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The simultaneous determination of enzymes in serum and CSF can provide valuable information in the research of certain details of pathomechanisms and thus lead to further improvement of diagnosis.