NEUROPEPTIDE Y-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN LUMBAR CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OFPATIENTS AFTER SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA

We studied head-injured patients assessed after admission to the hospi tal according to the Glasgow coma scale (3-8 points). All of them unde rwent surgical procedure after neuroradiological examination. Due to t herapeutic problems, some of these patients had lumbar puncture on the fourth day following surgery. The control group consisted of patients with lumbosacral discopathy in whom lumbar puncture was performed dur ing radiculography. The level of neuropeptide Y (NPY) was examined in 5 ml of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The concentration of NPY in CSF was assayed radioimmunologically. Taking into account our results and the clinical course of disease we suggest that high concentration of NPY in lumbar fluid in severe head-injured patients may contribute to poor clinical outcome.