ABSTRACT
Sixty-six cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were selected from Thai patients admitted to Siriraj Hospital with diseases involving their nervous systems. These patients’ clinical features were considered recovered and they had no neurological diagnosis when the CSF was taken for study. The selected samples were clear-colourless with no cells CSF. Total protein was measured by modified method of Henry, Sobel and Segalove using 12.5% Trichoroacetic acid to precipitate protein. Statistical analysis of the reference values were 13 to 42 mg/dl (mean = 27.34, standard deviation = 7.31). There was no statistical association between total protein and age group, namely, 13-25, 26-50, 51.48 years (p = 0.86, Analysis of Variance). There was no statistical difference between protein and sex (t = 0.4863, p > 0.05). The coefficient of variation of 10, 30, 50 and 100 mg/dl were 6.49, 8.22, 3.52 and 2.78 percent respectively which were acceptable precision. Therefore the reference values of total CSF protein can be established for Thai, any age and sex and can be used as predictive values for neurological diseases.
ABSTRACT
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn deficiency of the enzyme L-phenlalanine hydroxylase resulting in raised serum phenylalanine concentration and mental retardation. This study was performed on pregnant women who had previously given birth to mentally retarded children and suspected of having phenlketonuria. The phenlalanine level in amniotic fluid of this group was compared with normal pregnant women. The result showed no statistical difference (p > 0.05). The reference values of serum phenlalanine in Thai normal pregnant women were also studied. The result of the first, second and third were 1.6 + 0.8 mg/dl, 1.8 + 0.9 mg/dl and 1.8 + 0.6 mg/dl respectively.