A procedure for the determination of cerebrospinal fluid total protein and gamma globulin in neurologic disorders.

ELEVATION of the y-globulin concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurologic disorders has been reported (1-3). Expression of the y-globulin values in milligrams per hundred milliliters does not reveal whether this increase is due to a general elevation of total protein or y-globuin alone. Determinations of both y-globulin and total protein may further distinguish MS from other neurologic disorders with high y-globulin. To avoid any error that may result from using two different methods for their determination, one method that determines both is desirable. The purpose of this report is to describe a simple chemical procedure for the determination of both y-globulin and total protein, and its application for the estimation of their ratio in CSF of patients with MS, other neurologic and non-neurologic disorders.