Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of leukotriene B-4 in bacterial meningitis

We investigated whether leukotriene B-4 (LTB(4)), a granulocyte inflammatory mediator, is detectable in cerebrospinal fluid using a high performance liquid chromatographic method. In non-pleocytotic cerebrospinal fluid (n=5) and in cerebrospinal fluid from children with aseptic meningitis (n=8), LTB(4) concentrations were below the detection limit (<0.2 ng ml(-1)). In the range 0-20 ng ml(-1), the recovery rate of LTB(4) that had been added to non-pleocytotic cerebrospinal fluid was >90%. In cerebrospinal fluid with a polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) count higher than 1,000/ml, LTB(4) was detectable in six out of seven specimens with a concentration of 0.35-3.3 ng ml(-1). LTB(4) concentration was significantly correlated with PMN number. These results, together with observations in animal models, are discussed with regard to a pathophysiological role of LTB(4) in bacterial meningitis.