A STUDY OF THE TOTAL PROTEIN OF THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN UNCOMPLICATED AND UNTREATED NEUROSYPHILIS
Purcell G. Schube M. D.1
1 Psychiatric Clinic, Boston State Hospital, Boston, Mass.
A study of the cerebrospinal fluid total protein measured in mg. per 100 c. c. of cerebrospinal fluid of 446 cases of uncomplicated and untreated neurosyphilis is presented. There were 357 cases of general paresis, 48 cases of tabes without psychosis and 44 cases of cerebrospinal syphilis with psychosis.
The statistical technic was used throughout in evaluating the results.
The average value (M) for cerebrospinal fluid total protein
measured in mg. per 100 c. c. of cerebrospinal fluid was 75.4 for all
cases of neurosyphilis, 79.0 in general paresis, 57.9 in tubes
without psychosis, and 65.68 in cerebrospinal syphilis with
psychosis.
The middle 50 per cent (" Q ") of the cases had a cerebrospinal fluid total protein falling between 41.01 and 109.79 mg. for all cases of neurosyphilis, between 43.70 and 114.30 mg. in general paresis, 37.06 and 78.74 in tabes without psychosis, and 31.96 and 99.40 mg. in cerebrospinal syphilis with psychosis.
There is no true difference between any of the means excepting neurosyphilis and tabes without psychosis, and general paresis and tabes without psychosis. In these two instances the difference is so pronounced that there is no question concerning its existence.
If 39.99 mg. per 100 c. c. of cerebrospinal fluid is accepted as the upper limit of normal protein, it was found that 23.09 per cent of all the cases of neurosyphilis possessed normal values. 20.72 per cent of the cases of general paresis, 29.16 per cent of the cases of tabes without psychosis, and 34.09 per cent of the cases of cerebrospinal syphilis with psychosis also possessed normal values.
