INTRATHECAL PRODUCTION OF SPECIFIC IGA ANTIBODIES IN CNS INFECTIONS

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum from subjects with herpes simplex encephalitis, herpes tester, mumps meningitis and neuroborreliosis wer e analysed for the presence of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and G (IgG) anti bodies to the corresponding four antigens. Specific intrathecal IgA an tibody synthesis as manifested by an elevated index was a frequent fin ding. Higher IgA index values than the corresponding IgG was seen in o ne third of the samples from subjects with herpes simplex encephalitis and herpes tester. Correlation between specific Ige and IgA index was most pronounced for varicella-zoster virus (r=0.66, P < 0.001). In su bjects with mumps meningitis a strong intrathecal IgA and IgG antibody response to Ban-e lia burgdorferi was demonstrated. Specific herpes s implex and varicella-zoster virus IgA was not found to contain secreto ry component, thus contradicting an active secretion into the CNS comp artment. In conclusion, our data indicate that specific IgA is intrath ecally produced in herpes simplex encephalitis, herpes tester and mump s meningitis but is a rare finding in neuroborreliosis.