[Immunglobulin concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of children. Studies regarding age dependency and changes during inflammatory disease of CNS (author's transl)].

75 children of different age groups were examined for immunglobulin concentrations in spinal fluid. No statistical significant differences were found between the age groups a) 1 month to 1 year, b) 1 year to 5 years and c) 5 years to 12 years. The average level for IgG was 1,41 +/- 0,8 mg%, for total protein 34,8 +/- 9,6 mg%. IgA and IgM were detectable not or only in small quantities even when the spinal fluid was concentrated. Furthermore 21 children with viral and 9 with purulent meningitis and 2 with encephalitis were examined. Patients with meningitis had a distinct increase in IgG, IgA and IgM. The increase was more pronounced in purulent than in viral meningitis. Children with encephalitis had an increase of IgG and in one case an increase of IgA. Continous examination of immunglobulins in spinal fluid from a child with inoperable hydrocephalus revealed a steady increase of all 3 immunglobulins which was probably a result of elevated vascular permeability.