AN ENZYME-IMMUNOASSAY FOR NEURON-SPECIFIC ENOLASE IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID

A direct (as opposed to competitive) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was deve loped to detect neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF). Most common methods of evaluating NSE levels have utilized radio immunoassay. These are highly sensitive, but cannot be employed in lab oratories not equipped or licensed for the use of radioisotopes. The E IA developed here shows sensitivity within the physiological range of values for CSF-NSE (>1 ng/ml) and can be used in laboratories with app ropriate densitometric scanning capabilities. The assay was applied to CSF samples obtained from patients with a variety of diagnoses at the time of surgical intervention for their respective disorders. While t here were no diagnostically significant differences between the levels of NSE in CSF from patients with different neurological disorders uti lized in the development of this procedure, we were able to differenti ate between marginally different levels of NSE. We conclude that we ha ve developed a safe, fast, reliable, and sensitive assay for NSE in th e CSF that can be used to study NSE levels in a variety of neurologica l cases. (C) 1997 Academic Press.