Abstract:Objective To determine the change of β-endorphin (β-EP) in central nerve system (CNS) infection. Methods Plasma and CSF β-EP concentration of 45 viral encephalitis (VE), 18 purulent meningitis (PM), and 6 tuberculous meningitis (TM) were measured with r adioimmunoassay and were compared with those in 19 non-CNS diseases as controls. Results Plasma and CSF β-EP were (39.9±24.8) ng/L and (44.8±32.6) ng/L in VE , (49.9±28.3) ng/L and (62.1± 46.9) ng/L in PM, (44.1±25.3) ng/L and (55.8±46.2) ng/L in TM and (14.8±6.6) ng/L and (9.8±6.2) ng/L in the control grou p respectively. Plasma and CSF β-EP in VE, PM and TM were significantly higher than those of the controls (P<0.05). Plasma and CSF β-EP of CNS infection with severe neurologic dysfunction (71.7±20.5) ng/L, (92.1± 38.8) ng/L respectively were significantly higher than those of CNS infection with mild or moderate neurologic dysfuntion (47.1±22.8) ng/L, (55.2 ±32.8) ng/L respectively and the controls ( P<0.01). The plasma and GSF β-EP in the mild or moderate group were higher than those of the controls (P<0.01). Conclusions Plasma and CSF β-EP concentrati on may be useful as indicators of cerebral edema or cerebral injury, especially the CSF β-EP level.
