HUMORAL AND CELLULAR IMMUNE-RESPONSE WITHIN THE SUBARACHNOID SPACE OFPATIENTS WITH NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS

To study the immune response within the subarachnoid space in patients with neurocysticercosis, we measured the cerebrospinal fluid contents of immunoglobulins A, E, G, and M in 38 patients and the contents of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1b, LC-6 and IFN-gamma in 17 patients. The same measurements were made in 30 neurological patien ts without inflammatory or immune-mediated disorders. Each immunoglobu lin and cytokine, including the gender and age of the patient, was com pared by multiple regression analysis with the CSF contents of cells, protein and ELISA for cysticercal antigens. A direct correlation was f ound of IgM with cell content (p < 0.058) and with ELISA values (p < 0 .027); bf age with protein content (p < 0.006); of IL-6 with protein c ontent (p < 0.018) and of IL-1b with ELISA values (p < 0.004). An inve rse correlation was found of glucose with ELISA values (p < 0.008). A complex function of the immune response within the subarachnoid space was observed: mean values of IgG, IgM, IgE and interleukins Ib and 6 w ere increased, whereas values of IgA, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were sim ilar to those of controls.