Isotachophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was mixed in a constant ratio with carrier ampholytes and spacer amino acids and analysed by isotachophoresis. Examination of the cerebrospinal fluids from 113 patients showed characteristic patterns for normal, acute viral and acute bacterial meningitis. CSF from cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and multiple sclerosis (MS) differed from these and from each other in the gamma-globulin region. This technique provides useful information on the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and is able to determine whether immunoglobulins present arise within the central nervous system or enter through a damaged barrier.