Clinical Utility of Biochemical Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid

Abstract

In the Review by Watson and Scott entitled "Clinical utility of biochemical analysis of cerebrospinal fluid," 1995; 41:343-60, the total protein concentration in Table 1 should have been expressed in grams per liter (g/L), not milligrams per liter. In the Case Report by S. Coyle, M.D. Penney, P.W. Masters, and B.E. Walker entitled "Early diagnosis of ectopic arginine vasopressin secretion." 1933;39:152-4, in column 2, paragraph 3, page 152, and the title of The 1, the concentration of hypertonic saline infusion should have been expressed as 50 grams per liter (g/L), not milligrams per liter.

Bacterial external ventricular catheter-associated infection

“…The high rate of patients with a CSF pleocytosis is commonly due to blood admixture. Correction for blood admixture could be done by using the cell index but the additional value of this cell index for the diagnosis of drain-associated infections is unclear [20,21].…”

“…An elevated CSF protein concentration was found to be a nonspecific marker for ventriculitis. Protein concentrations are commonly increased secondary to blood admixture, increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, vasogenic brain edema, or release of brain-specific proteins during cell death [21]. In seven studies including 199 episodes of external catheter-associated infection and 869 non-ventriculitis patients, a significant difference in CSF protein concentration was reported.…”

Isolated Abducens Nerve Palsy: An Unusual Presentation of Leukemia

“…Abnormal cerebrospinal fluid results, pleocytosis with low glucose and high lactate levels, and papilledema should suggest the presence of a central nervous system malignancy. 10 Our case demonstrates that laboratory and neurologic evaluations are still needed after the diagnosis of isolated abducens nerve palsy. Otherwise, a malignant situation such as leukemia may go undiagnosed.…”

Cerebrospinal fluid:serum glucose ratio in the ventricular and lumbar compartments: implications for clinical practice

“…Determination of glucose in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum as well as calculation of the CSF:serum glucose (CSF:S Glu ) ratio is part of the routine CSF work-up [1]. A decrease in the CSF:S Glu ratio is found in various neurological disorders, including infectious diseases of the central nervous system or leptomeningeal metastases [2].…”