Evidence for sex difference in the CSF/plasma albumin ratio in ~20 000 patients and 335 healthy volunteers

Abstract

Given sex‐related differences in brain disorders, it is of interest to study if there is a sex difference in the permeability of the blood‐cerebrospinal fluid barrier ( BCSFB) and the blood‐brain barrier ( BBB). The CSF/serum albumin ratio ( Q _{A lb}) is a standardized biomarker that evaluates the function of these barriers. In previous studies, contradictory results have been reported with respect to sex difference using this quotient, possibly because of small population sizes and heterogeneity with respect to ages. Q _{A lb} measurements in more than 20 000 patients between 1 and 90 years visiting our hospitals revealed a significant sex difference in all age groups also when excluding patients with pathologically high CSF albumin > 400 mg/L. Similar pattern was found in 335 healthy volunteers in similar age intervals. Although also other factors are likely important, our observation is consistent with lower integrity of the brain barriers in males. If the difference in Q _{A lb} is caused mainly by a difference in barrier function, this may require different drug doses and strategies for efficient central nervous system ( CNS) delivery in males and females, as well as it may indicate differences in brain metabolism. Moreover, our study emphasizes that different reference values should be used both for different ages and sexes.