[Use of chromogenic substrate in cerebrospinal fluid diagnosis]

Amidolytic assays with chromogenic substrates exhibit great sensitivity, easy management, and good reproducibility. Consequently, they can be used with advantage in the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and plasminogen can thus be determined without a concentration step prior to analysis--lowered alpha 1-antitrypsin levels included. Serum/CSF concentration ratios obtained with these assays agree well with data calculated from immunochemical procedures. Moreover, there was a good correlation between amidolytic and immunochemical procedures. These reflections make it apparent that they can be adapted for routine evaluation of the above mentioned parameters.