[Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier function and cholinesterase activity in cerebrospinal fluid in degenerative changes of the lumbar spine].

The objective of this study was to determine whether spinal compression associated with degenerative changes of the lumbar vertebral column induces significant alteration in defined cerebrospinal fluid parameters. Serum and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid were studied in 62 patients and 47 age-matched controls. Patients were grouped according to neurologic status, duration of symptoms, and findings in magnetic resonance imaging. Statistically significant elevations in cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratio, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase activity, and total protein concentration were observed in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of patients. Patients with neurologic deficits did not exhibit significant differences in cerebrospinal fluid parameters compared with patients lacking neurologic signs. No significant differences were detectable between lateral and medial compression. Acute disk herniation led to practically the same biochemical changes as chronic compression. Biochemical analysis of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid offers additional diagnostic information in patients suffering from back or leg pain associated with degenerative changes of the spine. Pathological damage to meningeal and neural tissues can be demonstrated even if neurologic signs or obvious spinal compression are missing in the radiological examination. An elevated cerebrospinal fluid/serum albumin ratio reflects alteration of the blood/cerebrospinal fluid barrier status. Increased acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity point to pathophysiological impairment of neural tissues or meninges.