Specific demonstration of albumin by immunohistological techniques in human vasogenic brain edema.

In the present study, the immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase methods were applied to demonstrate the serum proteins in vasogenic brain edema (6). Using these techniques on paraffin embedded formalin fixed human brains with carcinoma metastases, albumin was identified specifically in the edema fluid, while human immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) were not detectable. The localisation and spreading of edema fluid clearly show the presence of the vasogenic type of brain edema under human pathological conditions. The astrocytes containing albumin confirm the conception concerning their role in the resolution of brain edema in human pathology, as well. The immunohistological techniques seem to be useful to investigate the human brain edema on necropsy material.