Abstract

The simultaneous determination of the corticosteroid levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid were carried out in healthy subjects and patients with meningitis, brain tumor, hydrocephalus, epilepsy and schizophrenia. A diurnal rhythm of the corticosteroid concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid was observed and the characteristics of the pattern were similar to those of the blood, but the onset of the maximal peak of the concentration of corticosteroids in the cerebrospinal fluid was somewhat delayed compared with that of the blood. In acute meningitis with high fever, a marked increase in the levels of corticosteroids in both blood and cerebrospinal fluid was observed. This increase in the levels returned to normal following recovery from the disease. The ratio of the corticosteroid levels of cerebrospinal fluid to blood in acute aseptic meningitis was not significantly modified, suggesting no modification of bloodcerebrospinal fluid gradient in this disease. However, in tuberculous and septic meningitis the ratio of the corticosteroid levels in cerebrospinal fluid to blood slightly increased compared with that of normal subjects. The corticosteroid levels in brain tumor, hydrocephalus, epilepsy and schizophrenia were within normal limits.

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