[Permeability of the blood-brain barrier in severe craniocerebral trauma]

Permeability of the blood-brain barrier was studied by comparing the molar concentrations of albumin and alpha 2-macroglobulin in the spinal fluid and blood of patients with severe brain injury. If the outcome was good, the selective permeability of the barrier was shown to be fully retained, which meant that its regulatory and protective functions remained normal. If the outcome was poor, the selective permeability changed to a greater extent and the alterations found suggested that the regulatory function of the barrier was preserved with simultaneous loss of its protective properties. More marked changes in the function of blood-brain barrier and in the protein composition of spinal fluid occurred with simultaneously elevated intracranial pressure.