Neuron-specific enolase concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with no previous history of neurological disorder

Studies of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in patients with neurological lesions indicate a quantitative relation between the degree of cell damage in the central nervous system (CNS) and the concentration of this CNS-specific protein. We collected serum and CSF from 63 males and 24 females undergoing various surgical procedures in spinal anaesthesia. The patients had no actual or previous history of neurological disease. The mean value of NSE in serum was 7.1 +/- 3.6 micrograms/L. NSE concentrations in CSF demonstrated age- and sex-dependency, with an increase with age from 21 to 84 years and significantly higher levels in males than in females. Therefore, age- and sex-matched reference values have to be used when NSE is evaluated in CSF in patients with different neurological disorders.