Level of S-100 and neuron-specific enolase in cerebrospinal fluid from subjects with neurological pathologies

To evaluate S-100 and neuro specific enolase (NSE) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with differents neurological disorders in order to study possible differences in their protein concentrations. We analysed samples of CSF taked by spinal puncture in subjects either from of the Casualty Department or from the Department of Neurology. Patients displaying neurological symptoms capable of being diagnostically tested. The total number of patients-samples examined was 43 (23 males and 20 females; mean age 43 y, range 1-78 y). Five patients groups were studied: a control group, meningitis, dementia, polyneuropathy-motorneuron disease, and acute cerebral infarction group (ACV). S-100 and NSE concentrations were measured by immunoradiometric procedures. Highest S-100 median levels in CSF were found in dementia and ACV group, with elevate concentrations in meningitis groups. The increased S-100 levels in these groups was significant compared with control group (Mann-Withney U test). For NSE concentrations, there is a significant differences between dementia group and control group. No other significant differences were found between groups. There were positive correlation between S-100 levels and total protein. Our results suggest that S-100 and NSE can be a sensitive marker of brain damage in different neurological disorders. However, levels must be considered individually, since these concentrations depend on several factors, such as age, severity of brain damage or interval between the onset of brain damage and the taking of the sample.