ABSTRACT
The deposition of beta A4-amyloid in senile plaques and small cerebral vessels is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Recent data suggest that protease inhibitors such as alpha 2-macroglobulin may be involved in the process of forming beta A4 amyloid deposits. Compared to 34 persons without neurological diseases, the serum content of alpha 1-antitrypsin was increased in 16 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 15 with Binswanger's disease. In the latter alpha 2-macroglobulin was also elevated in serum. Our results show no evidence of a blood-borne origin of the protein or peptid deposited in the walls of small vessels in Alzheimer's or Binswanger's disease. Nevertheless, the elevated proteinase inhibitor concentrations may play a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/blood , Dementia, Multi-Infarct/blood , alpha 1-Antitrypsin/analysis , alpha-Macroglobulins/analysis , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Immunoglobulins/bloodABSTRACT
Due to growing understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms in acute inflammation new strategies for treatment of bacterial meningitis have been developed. The use of dexamethasone as adjunctive therapy for bacterial meningitis during the first 4 days (0.15 mg per kilogram body weight every six hours 30 min before antibiotic treatment for four days) showed a significantly reduce of neurologic sequelae in four clinical studies. A reduction of case fatality rate in more severe cases down to 50% was observed. In regard of these results the American academy of infectious diseases recommends since 1991 for children from the age of 3 month with Haemophilus influenzae meningitis a therapy regime as above.
