Levels of enolase and other enzymes in the cerebrospinal fluid as indices of pathological change

Abstract

The activities of enolase, aldolase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase were measured in CSF of 121 patients presenting with a range of disorders of the CNS. Results from 41 patients undergoing myelography were used as controls. An assessment was made of the relative merits of these 3 enzymes as markers of brain damage with specific reference to brain tumors. Enolase was the most sensitive marker of pathological change and was the only enzyme raised in the CSF of patients with low grade astrocytomas.