ENDOTOXINS IN THE BLOOD AND CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITH AFRICAN SLEEPING SICKNESS

Endotoxin levels were measured in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (C SF) of control individuals and 2 groups of patients with African sleep ing sickness. Endotoxin levels were markedly elevated in the blood (in fected groups mean endotoxin values 40.2 pg/ml and 53.8 pg/ml, compare d to control 11.6 pg/ml, P < 0.0001 for both increases) and CSF (infec ted groups mean endotoxin values 45.8 pg/ml and 50.1 pg/ml compared to control 6.3 pg/ml, P < 0.0001 for both increases) of the patients. Th e levels were reduced 6 weeks following different drug treatments in t he 2 groups (blood levels to mean 33.8 pg/ml and 28.5 pg/ml; CSF level s to 37.4 pg/ml and 27.0 pg/ml). The blood endotoxin values correlated with the CSF values before treatment (r = 0.74 and 0.57 for the 2 gro ups; P < 0.0001 for both) and after treatment (r = 0.57 and 0.56 for t he 2 groups; P < 0.0001 for both). It is concluded that raised endotox in equilibrates in the blood and CSF compartments, and may contribute significantly to the pathology of sleeping sickness.