[Blood and cerebrospinal fluid B and T lymphocytes in mumps-meningitis (author's transl)]

20 children, 12 boys and 8 girls, with mumps-meningitis have been investigated during the acute stage of illness. Immunoglobulin-concentration, B and T cell ratios were determined in venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid. In the blood no correlation between the percentage of B cells and immunoglobulin-levels, or the course of illness could be observed. Total protein level as well as cell count, the concentration of glucose and chloride were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid at the same time. No correlation between the percentage of B cells and immunoglobulin-levels could be observed in cerebrospinal fluid. No difference in the number of B and T cells was observed between blood and cerebrospinal fluid. These results demonstrate, that the lymphocytes in cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis possess the same surface markers and show about the same B to T cell ratio as it is found on the lymphocytes of blood.