CSF analysis

CSF analysis is a specific diagnostic method that is prescribed if there are suspicions of many severe pathological conditions. Due to the complexity of the procedure, especially in children, the doctor will issue a referral for such a study only after indirect confirmation of the preliminary diagnosis. This avoids traumatic manipulation with unjustified risks.

The presented analysis provides for a laboratory study of cerebrospinal fluid. Usually he is sent to take it for suspected meningitis of any type, encephalomyelitis, as well as for a number of other narrow-profile infectious diseases. Despite the fact that the intervention itself is safe with the proper skills of medical personnel, the patient should prepare in advance for standard side effects.

Functions of the cerebrospinal fluid

To understand how this biological material is taken for study, and also why it can provide complete information about infection with relatively rare infections, you need to understand the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid.

CSF, sometimes also referred to as cerebrospinal fluid and shortened to CSF, is a type of human body fluid. It circulates in the following physiological pathways: the subarachnoid membrane of the brain and spinal cord, as well as in the ventricles of the brain.

Her main functional duties were to ensure the internal balance of one of the most important centers of the body – the brain and spinal cord. Due to the composition of CSF, it is able to protect these organs from various mechanical damage. In the event of a blow or similar injury, the biological material neutralizes most of the negative impact that came from outside.

It is also designed to ensure the saturation of neurons with oxygen, incoming nutrients during the exchange between blood and brain cells. The well-established connection works according to an identical principle by the return of the product processed into carbon dioxide by neurons, as well as other decay residues, toxins.

The norm of such an environment contains a sufficient amount of vital elements that can maintain the chemical indicators of the activity of the centers at the proper level. An auxiliary function of the cerebrospinal fluid is the support of intracranial pressure, saving the brain from its possible unforeseen jumps.

To maintain the protective forces aimed at protecting the brain environment from infectious processes, the fluid must be constantly updated, following a direct current. As soon as she ceases to fulfill at least one duty assigned to her, the person’s well-being deteriorates sharply. In such situations, he is sent to take a clinical analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid, designed to determine the exact indicators of its composition.

Main factors

The interpretation of the results of the survey is based on a comparison of the results obtained with those that are considered to be the standard in medicine. If a person has some kind of pathology, then the laboratory assistant will definitely detect a corresponding deviation from the template during the evaluation of the material.

So, a healthy fluid level should range from 130 to 160 ml. The exact amount depends on the individual physiology of each patient. Moreover, the collected contents should not have any cells, as is characteristic of lymph or blood.

Most of the composition, and this is about 90%, falls on water. All other components in unequal quantities are distributed between:

• amino acids;
• proteins;
• glucose in an amount of about 50 mg;
• lipids;
• ammonia;
• lactic acid;
• urea;
• remnants of cell particles;
• trace concentration of nitrogenous compounds.

All of the above must be in a hydrated state. This allows the composition to wash both brains in order to have time to nourish them, and also to carry away waste substances that can quickly turn into toxins.

The main physiological load still falls on the water. But protein, nitrogen and other particles are just side components that are washed out of neurons, representing already used material.

The LOS is updated without interruption, which allows it to receive new components regularly. Their fluid is taken from the cerebral ventricles, which are special vascular plexuses. Also, part of the useful elements enters during direct penetration through the walls of blood vessels that carry blood.

Usually, liquor in 80% of the volume is updated due to the functioning of the brain. If the body has an excess of it, then it gets rid of unnecessary milliliters by processing with subsequent withdrawal in a natural way – through the blood and lymphatic system.

Against this background, it becomes clear why the sampling of this component of the body is so valuable for diagnosis. Even dogs or other pets are sometimes subjected to the procedure if veterinarians suspect serious anomalies.

The price of the examination depends on the specific laboratory, as well as the need to conduct auxiliary tests. The latter are often prescribed by the doctor immediately so that the patient does not have to be examined several times. Results are released within the next few days. Moreover, the decoding should be done by the attending specialist, it is enough just to transfer the extract from the laboratory to a narrow specialist so that he can figure it out himself, and then explain the diagnosis in detail to his ward.

When is analysis essential?

Manipulation is allowed to be carried out regardless of age. It is even allowed to make a fence in newborns, if the percentage of benefits from the intervention significantly exceeds the possible harm.

The main medical indications for sending a patient to a diagnostic room are:

• infectious diseases of the central nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis and others);
• neoplasms in the area of ​​​​the membranes and structures of the brain;
• hemorrhages under the arachnoid membrane of the brain.

But often people are familiar with this study because of the need to rule out the risk of developing meningitis, especially in infants or during an outbreak.

Many ordinary people, having learned how manipulation is done, are frightened and refuse to follow medical recommendations. In fact, although the sampling does cause some discomfort, it is not particularly painful with the proper skills of the doctor. The classic lumbar puncture is taken as a basis, which means a tissue puncture with a special needle.

The lumbar region is chosen as the point of insertion of the needle, since it is it that is the safest for health. Sometimes this approach is used not only for the diagnosis of possible lesions, but also for therapeutic purposes. The last point involves the introduction of drugs into the subarachnoid space, for example, antibiotics.

Having figured out how CSF is taken, you need to understand that after such a short, but still traumatic intervention, the patient may experience side effects:

• headache;
• discomfort in the lumbar region;
• malaise.

Usually all of the above takes place the next day. If this does not happen, then you should immediately report the symptoms of complications to the attending specialist.

The places where you can take the test will usually be indicated by the doctor during the appointment. But since patients of the inpatient department of the hospital are usually sent to the diagnostic room, the necessary laboratory can be found in the same building.

Clinical norm

The presented biochemical test has a strict framework of normal indicators. Any deviations from them indicate developing pathologies. Moreover, each ailment has its own clinical picture, which allows you to quickly distinguish the result, for example, with syphilis from other diseases.

The general standard for a healthy person is as follows:

Cytosis is considered separately. The unit of study is 1 µl. The average parameters should be from 0-1 units in terms of the level of ventricular and cisternal fluid. A lumbar fluid should be collected by 2-3 units in 1 µl.

Deciphering common pathologies

There are about two dozen only the most common diagnosed diseases identified as a result of studying the results of a CSF examination. All of them have their own clinical features. So, the biological fluid with tuberculous meningitis will have a mild yellowish tint. Its structure will be similar to a small web. The main parameters of the elements of the composition include:

• protein from 45 to 500 units, depending on the severity;
• glucose is less than 45, but in approximately 20% of clinical cases, the parameter can maintain a healthy value;
• leukocytes range from 25-100, with a particularly severe form, the value exceeds the threshold of 500.

To be safe, doctors often send the patient to take another analysis of acid-fast color and sowing on a nutrient medium.

If the patient is suspected of acute gonorrheal meningitis, then the appearance of the collected cerebrospinal fluid will range from opalescent to purulent. The texture will include clumps and the color has a yellowish tint. Here it is worth being especially careful, since when staining the composition with blood, there is a risk of damage not by meningitis, but by anthrax.

In this case, the protein can vary in the range from 50 to 1500, but most often the radius narrows to 100-500. Glucose falls no higher than 45, and the boundaries of leukocytes rise to 1000-5000. For the most part, we are talking about stab neutrophils.

Aseptic meningitis is characterized by completely different features, with clear, hazy, or xanthochromic CSF. Protein limits range from 20 to 200, but glucose remains normal.

Leukocytes are first represented by stab neutrophils, and then by monocytes. Their level rarely exceeds 500 units, but some victims recorded almost a record 2000.

The most difficult to deal with the viral variety of meningitis. This is explained by the presence of a typical clear liquid, as well as normal glucose and protein values. The latter is rarely elevated. Leukocytes show from 10 to 1000, with most of them being lymphocytes.

Almost always, the attending physician uses the results of other tests to make an accurate verdict. This can be a myelogram, PCR, bacteriological culture, IgM with specific antigens. The specific additional analysis depends on the suspicion, so what is relevant for multiple sclerosis may not be useful for mumps or acute polio.