Integrity of the blood-brain barrier and intrathecal synthesis of IgG in parenchymatous and subarachnoid cerebral cysticercosis
Estañol Vidal, B.; Díaz Granados, J.; Corona Vázquez, T.
Revista de Investigacion Clinica; Organo del Hospital de Enfermedades de la Nutricion 41(4): 327-330
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-8376 PMID: 2631167 Document Number: 346250
Patients with cerebral cysticercosis (CC) have specific antibodies of the IgG type in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In order to determine if the specific antibodies present in the CSF come from blood or synthetized in the subarachnoid space, we studied the integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and the intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies. We found a ruptured BBB with more frequency and in a higher intensity in patients with CC and hydrocephalus (malignant CC) than in patients with parenchymal CC (benign CC). The patients with malignant CC have a greater number of inflammatory cells, a higher albumin index (serum albumin/CSF albumin), a higher level of protein and a higher titre of specific antibodies in the CSF than those with benign CC. In 15 patients in both groups we could demonstrate intrathecal synthesis of antibodies. We conclude that in CC the specific antibodies are produced intrathecally, and in a lesser amount come from the blood through a ruptured blood-brain barrier.