Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: Agarose Gel Electrophoresis Detection of [[Beta].Sub.2]-Transferrin and Nephelometric Quantification of [Beta]-Trace Protein (Technical Briefs‪)‬

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage may occur with head trauma, surgery, inflammation, tumors, or congenital malformations. Determining the presence of CSF leakage is important so the leakage can be repaired and treatment can be initiated to prevent infection in the central nervous system. In this study, electrophoretic methods using three different detection systems for [[beta].sub.2]-transferrin ([beta]2Trf) were compared with a nephelometric method for [beta]-trace protein ([beta]TP) for ease of use and sensitivity in the clinical laboratory setting to diagnose CSF leakage. Results were compared for 30 samples that had been submitted to the clinical laboratory for assessment of CSF leakage. Detection of [beta]2Trf has been used as an endogenous marker to identify CSF in fluids to diagnose CSF leaks (1-4). Transferrin that migrates in the [beta]-1 electrophoretic fraction ([beta]1Trf) is found in most body fluids. [beta]2Trf is used as a CSF-specific variant of transferrin, but it is also found in the aqueous humor and serum of patients with rare metabolic glycoprotein disorders or genetic variants of transferrin. If [beta]1Trf and [beta]2Trf are detected in drainage fluids by electrophoresis and subsequent immunodetection, the specimen is presumed to be contaminated with CSF.