Activity of 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with demyelinating disorders

The use of a recently developed highly sensitive method for measuring 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase activity has permitted the detection of this enzyme in the cerebrospinal fluid of normal subjects and of patients with demyelinating disorders. Elevated activity was found in several (but not all) patients with evidence of demyelinating disorders. Concomitant measurement of myelin basic protein showed that, in general, those patients with higher 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase activity also had increased levels of myelin basic protein. However, not all samples containing high levels of myelin basic protein showed elevated enzyme activity.