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The cerebrospinal fluid in myasthenia gravis
Sigurdur Thorlacius,
Johan A. Aarli,
Corresponding Author
Sigurdur Thorlacius
Department of Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway
Sigurdur Thorlacius, M.D. Department of Neurology 5016 Haukeland sykehus Bergen NorwaySearch for more papers by this authorJohan A. Aarli
Department of Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway
Search for more papers by this authorSigurdur Thorlacius,
Johan A. Aarli,
Corresponding Author
Sigurdur Thorlacius
Department of Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway
Sigurdur Thorlacius, M.D. Department of Neurology 5016 Haukeland sykehus Bergen NorwaySearch for more papers by this authorJohan A. Aarli
Department of Neurology, University of Bergen, Norway
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
ABSTRACT – We examined the number of leucocytes and the concentration of total protein, albumin and IgG in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 46 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and 50 controls. Mean leucocyte number in the MG patients was 1634 cells/ml (controls 1244), mean total protein 0.38 g/l (controls 0.32), mean IgG 0.034 g/l (controls 0.025) and mean albumin 0.199 g/l (controls 0.176). No evidence of intrathecal IgG synthesis was demonstrated. The CSF was normal in most cases. When pathological changes occurred they were slight and could be attributed to associated diseases or to iatrogenic blood contamination of the CSF. We demonstrated that an artificial blood contamination of the CSF, although macroscopically undetectable, increased the CSF albumin concentration and the CSF albumin/serum albumin ratio considerably.
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