Immunoglobulin M in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with arbovirus encephalitis and other infections of the central nervous system

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid determinations of immunoglobulin M were made by immunoelectrophoresis in persons with arbovirus encephalitis, other nervous system infections, and noninfectious diseases. CSF IgM was present in 24 of 40 persons with infections and 9 of 56 without (p < 0.05). High CSF IgM levels (⩾ 1.0 mg per 100 ml) were distributed as follows: arbovirus encephalitis 6 of 9; viral meningitis 1 of 17; postviral encephalitis 1 of 7; bacterial meningitis 4 of 7 cerebrovascular disease 0 of 19; and other noninfectious diseases 4 of 37. No relationship between CSF IgM and CSF protein or serum IgM was evident. High CSF IgM levels appear to be a feature of arbovirus encephalitis, as well as bacterial meningitis.