[Differentiation of cerebrospinal immunoglobulins in mumps meningoencephalitis]

In 24 children with mumps-meningitis or -meningoencephalitis the process dynamics of the locally produced CSF immunoglobulins were quantified by end-point laser-nephelometry. In 8 cases there was a local production of all the immunoglobulins IgG, A and M. In 6 cases the humoral immune response was still detectable after six weeks, in one child after one year. In all cases of meningoencephalitis locally produced immunoglobulins became detectable and their levels were higher than in meningitis. The locally produced CSF immunoglobulins reached the maximum in the first disease stage. There was no shift from IgM to IgG production in the CSF compartment. At present time there is no explanation for the wide variation of the humoral immune response within the central nervous system.