Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (1009 page)

   Normal levels can occur in incomplete obstruction of the spinal canal.

   Increase in albumin alone can be a result of a lesion in the choroid plexus or a blockage in the flow of CSF.

   Determination of myelin basic protein in CSF may be of use in diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or other active demyelinating processes.

IMMUNOGLOBULIN M (IgM)

   Definition

   IgM is the first antibody to appear in response to antigen. It can be produced by the fetus and cannot be crossed by the placenta.

   
Normal range:
see Table 16.44.

TABLE 16–44. Normal Ranges for IgM by Age

   Use

   Diagnosis of hereditary and acquired IgM immunodeficiencies

   Diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinemia

   Earliest Ig serologic diagnosis of infectious disease

   Interpretation

Increased In

   Polyclonal

   Liver disease