CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID SOLUBLE L-SELECTIN (SCD62L) IN MENINGOENCEPHALITIS

The leucocyte adhesion molecule L-selectin (CD62L) is rapidly cleaved off proteolytically after cell activation, generating soluble L-select in (sCD62L) molecules. sCD62L concentrations were determined in 185 ce rebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples Material obtained from children aged 1 month to 17 PATIENTS years. In 36 CSF samples of children with mening oencephalitis, sCD62L was significantly higher (median 209 fmol/ml) th an in samples of children with other febrile diseases (n=67, median 50 fmol/ml) or non-febrile disorders (n=82, median 44 fmol/ml). There wa s a positive correlation between CSF protein and CSF sCD62L (r(s)=0.68 ), suggesting that a disturbed blood-brain barrier contributes to rais ed sCD62L concentrations in the CSF. However, the CSF sCD62L/protein r atio of children with meningoencephalitis was significantly higher tha n in children with other febrile diseases or non-febrile disorders, in dicating that sCD62L concentrations in children with meningoencephalit is were higher than expected from plasma leakage alone. It is conclude d that both an impaired blood-brain barrier and the generation of sCD6 2L by infiltrating leucocytes contribute to raised CSF sCD62L concentr ations in children with meningoencephalitis.