Lymphocyte subset numbers in cerebrospinal fluid: comparison of tick-borne encephalitis and neuroborreliosis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze lymphocyte subset numbers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and acute neuroborreliosis.

Methods: CSF lymphocyte subsets were enumerated in 42 TBE and nine neuroborreliosis patients using flow cytometry.

Results: The CSF numbers of CD4+, CD8+, HLA-DR+ and total-T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and NK cells were all greater in neuroborreliosis patients than in TBE patients. Neuroborreliosis patients showed positive correlation of CSF protein levels with the numbers of CD4+, HLA-DR+ and total-T lymphocytes. Also, the numbers of CSF B lymphocytes correlated positively with intrathecal Borrelia burgdorferi-specific IgG antibodies. Conversely, TBE patients demonstrated intrathecal protein levels that correlated positively with all investigated CSF lymphocyte subsets.

Conclusion: These results suggest an intensive recruitment of lymphocyte subsets into the central nervous system (CNS) during acute neuroborreliosis, whereas TBE is characterized by a lower accumulation of lymphocyte subsets in the CSF.