[Concentration of epidermal growth factor in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

In 15 patients with SLA and 15 with discopathy regarded as a control group the level of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was determined by radioreceptor assay in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The EFG level in the serum could not be determined by this method. In the CSF of SLA patients this level was 587.6 +/- 257.7 pg/ml and was significantly lower in relation to the control group in which it was 990.9 +/- 297.5 pg/ml. The authors discuss in this connection the role of EGF in SLA pathogenesis.