The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 10, Issue 4 431-438, Copyright © 1977 by Society for General Microbiology
Radioimmunoassay of herpes-simplex and measles virus antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients without infectious or demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system
K. O. Kalimo, R. J. Marttila, B. R. Ziola, M. T. Matikainen and M. Panelius
A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was used to detect IgG antibodies against
herpes-simplex virus antigens (capsid, envelope and excreted) and against
measles virus antigen in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens of
61 patients with no evidence of infectious or demyelinating disease of the
central nervous system. Quantitative determinations of IgG and albumin in
serum and CSF were also performed. Of the 61 serum and 61 CSF samples
tested, 57 and 56 respectively contained antibodies against subunit
antigens of herpes simplex virus. Antibody against measles virus was found
in 59 serum and 47 CSF specimens. A positive correlation (P less than
0-001) was found between each of the four serum to CSF antibody ratios and
the serum to CSF total IgG ratios. This indicated that the distribution of
antiviral IgG antibodies in serum and CSF normally follows the distribution
of total IgG. The ratios between viral antibody in serum and CSF were also
correlated with albumin ratios (P less than 0-05). An inverse relation (P
less than 0-001) was found between the age of the patients and their serum
to CSF albumin ratios, but not their IgG ratios, suggesting that the
albumin ratio is a useful indicator of a blood brain barrier lesion and
that the IgG ratio should be used in evaluating disturbed antibody ratios.
