All issues > Volume 26(9); 1983

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1983;26(9):884-890. Published online September 30, 1983.

A Study on CSF Enzyme Activity in Central Nervous System Infections.

Kwang Rhyen Koo¹, Cheol Won Park¹, Jong Myeon Hong¹, Yeong Bong Park¹, Chang Soo Ra¹

¹Department of Pediatrics，College of Medicine, Chosun University Kwangju, Korea

Abstract

May investigators suggested that The measurement of CSF enzyme activity, especially those of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), are a helpful laboratory test for the diagnosis of CNS infections. 100 patients with epidemic encephalitis (Japanese encephalitis, 7 patients with bacterial meningitis, 6 patients with epilepsy and 11 patients without CNS diseases were subjected to this study. All patients were hospitalized at the Department of Pediatrics, Chosun University Hospital, during the period of August-October, 1982. Measurements of GOT, GPT and LDH levels were performed by UV-Kinetic method. The following results were obtained; 1. GOT levels in the CSF of the patients with epidemic encephalitis were 9.7±6.4 U/L and were similar to those of the patients with epilepsy (8.1±4.3 U/L) and of the normal control group (8.2±4.8 U/L). However, in the patients with bacterial meningitis, the levels of GOT in the CSF (30.1±9.6 U/L) were markedly elevated (p<. 01). 2. GPT levels in the CSF of the patients with epidemic encephalitis, epilepsy and normal control group were 3.6±3.7 U/L, 3.5±4.8 U/L and 2.0±3.2 U/L respectively. However, in the patients with bacterial meningitis, the levels of GPT in the CSF (6. 5±3.3 U/L) were moderately elevated. 3. LDH levels in the CSF of the patients with epidemic encephalitis and epilepsy were 25.2±21.0 U/L and 17.6±5.3 U/L respectively, and these levels were moderately elevated in compaired with those levels of normal control group (9.6±10.2 U/L). However, in the patients with, bacterial meningitis, the levels of LDH in the CSF (90.1±55.3 U/L) were approximately five times as much as those measured in the patients with epidemic encephalitis (P< 01). The results of authors study suggested that The measurements of CSF transaminase and LDH levels are an important diagnostic aid for CNS infections.

Keywords :CNS infections; GOT; GPT; LDH; CSF.