Cerebrospinal fluid ferritin in patients with meningitis and cerebral infarction or bleeding
Milman, N.; Graudal, N.A.; Olsen, T.S.; Wandall, J.H.; Pedersen, N.S.
Danish Medical Bulletin 40(4): 490-492
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0907-8916 PMID: 8222769 Document Number: 418970
The diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ferritin was assessed in 30 patients with meningeal reaction (viral meningitis 10; bacterial meningitis 6; meningism 14) and in 37 patients with cerebrovascular disease (cerebral infarction 29; transient ischaemic attacks 4; cerebral haemorrhage 4). The control group comprised 13 subjects with minor neurological disorders. CSF-ferritin levels were not significantly different in the various subgroups, most patients having values within the normal reference interval (2-7 micrograms/l). A clearly elevated CSF-ferritin was seen in one patient with bacterial meningitis and in one patient with intraventricular bleeding. In patients with meningeal reaction, CSF-ferritin was significantly correlated to CSF-protein. Patients with cerebrovascular disease displayed significant correlations between CSF-albumin and CSF-IgG and between CSF-ferritin, CSF-albumin and CSF-IgG. The present study indicates that measurement of CSF-ferritin is of no practical clinical relevance in the evaluation of patients with meningeal reaction and cerebrovascular disease.