Summary
Ten children affected by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia without CNS involvement were treated with a CNS prophylaxis protocol. Intrathecal methotrexate and CNS irradiation (60Co) administered at different times both induced an increase in blood-CSF barrier permeability to serum proteins (albumin, IgG, alpha2 macroglobulin). The relationship between permeability coefficients of proteins was analysed by theoretical porous or vesicular blood-CSF barrier models. The analysis indicated that both therapeutic procedures affect endothelial pinocytosis. An increase in radius of pinocytotic vesicles from 400 to 1500 Å seemed the most relevant change. The damage of endothelial barrier permselectivity could be involved in acute and late delayed toxic effects of intrathecal methotrexate and of CNS irradiation.
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Livrea, P., Trojano, M., Simone, I.L. et al. Acute changes in blood-CSF barrier permselectivity to serum proteins after intrathecal methotrexate and CNS irradiation. J Neurol 231, 336–339 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313712
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313712