Skip to main content

Highly sensitive detection of beta-2 transferrin in rhinorrhea and otorrhea as a marker for cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) leakage

Summary

As beta-2 transferrin is almost specific to the cerebrospinal fluid, its detection in rhinorrhea or otorrhea fluids demonstrates the occurrence of CSF fistula. We describe a highly sensitive method based on immunoaffinity-mediated capillary blotting for the detection of this cathodic isoform of transferrin in minute amounts (3 μl) of rhinorrhea or otorrhea fluids. Application of this method in a series of 10 patients with CSF fistula is reported.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

References

  1. Dernouchamps JP (1981) Les protéines de l'humeur aqueuse. Thesis, 131 pp. Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Espinosa de los Monreros A, Pena LA, de Vellis J (1989) Does transferrin have a special role in the nervous system? J Neurosci Res 24: 125–136

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Felgenhauer K, Schädlich HJ, Nekic M (1987) Beta trace-protein as marker for cerebrospinal fluid fistula. Klin Wochenschr 65: 764–768

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kirsch AP (1967) Diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea: Lack of specificity of the glucose oxidase test tape. J Pédiatr 71: 718–719

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kok JG, Bartelink AKM, Schulte BPM, Smals A, Pieters G, Meyer E, Merx H (1985) Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea during treatment with bromocriptine for prolactinoma. Neurology 35: 1193–1195

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Loew F, Pertuiset B, Chaumier EE, Jaksche H (1984) Traumatic, spontaneous and postoperative CSF rhinorrhea. In: Symon Let al (eds) Advances and technical standards in neurosurgery, vol 11. Springer, Wien New York, pp 169–207

    Google Scholar 

  7. McLachlan R (1989) Monoclonal immunoglobulins: Affinity blotting for low concentrations in serum. Clin Chem 35/3, 478–481

    Google Scholar 

  8. Meurman OH, Irjala K, Suonpää J, Laurent B (1979) A new method for the identification of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. Acta Otolaryngol 87: 366–369

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Oberascher G, Arrer E (1986) Immunologische Liquordiagnostik mittels Beta-2 Transferrin-Grundlager und Methodik. Laryngol Rhinol Otol 65: 158–161

    Google Scholar 

  10. Reisinger PWM, Lempart K, Hochstrasser K (1987) Neue Methoden zur Diagnostik von Liquorfisteln mit Hilfe von Beta-2 Transferrin oder Präalbumin-Grundlagen und Methodik. Laryngol Rhinol Otol 66: 255–259

    Google Scholar 

  11. Reisinger PWM, Hochstrasser K (1989) The diagnosis of CSF fistulae on the basis of detection of beta-2 transferrin by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 27: 169–172

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ritchie RF, Smith R (1976) Immunofixation. I. General principles and application to agarose gel electrophoresis. Clin Chem 22: 497–499

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Rouah E, Barton Rogers B, Buffone G (1987) Transferrin analysis by immunofixation as an aid in the diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. Arch Pathol Lab Med 111: 756–757

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Wilson JD, Newcombe RLG, Long FL (1983) Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea during treatment of pituitary tumours with bromocriptine. Acta Endocrinol 103: 457–460

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fransen, P., Sindic, C.J.M., Thauvoy, C. et al. Highly sensitive detection of beta-2 transferrin in rhinorrhea and otorrhea as a marker for cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F.) leakage. Acta neurochir 109, 98–101 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403002

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01403002

Keywords

  • Beta-2 transferrin
  • cerebrospinal fluid
  • CSF rhinorrhea
  • otorrhea