APPEARANCE OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Flashcards
What does crystal clear cerebrospinal fluid appearance indicate?
normal
What might a cloudy, milky, turbid cerebrospinal fluid appearance suggest?
- May suggest an increase in protein, lipid, or white blood cells.
What does the presence of BLOODY cerebrospinal fluid indicate?
- Suggests conditions such as intracranial hemorrhage or a traumatic tap.
What does a pink appearance of cerebrospinal fluid indicate?
- pink- oxyhemoglobin
What does a yellow appearance of cerebrospinal fluid suggest?
- yellow- high bilirubin
What does an orange appearance of cerebrospinal fluid typically result from?
- orange- combination of oxyhemoglobin and high bilirubin
What are some of the factors that can lead to xanthochromic cerebrospinal fluid?
- Can result from hemoglobin, bilirubin, carotene, increased protein, and melanin.
What could be the reason for the appearance of clotted cerebrospinal fluid?
- May result from the introduction of clotting factors due to a traumatic tap.
When might you observe a pellicle-like appearance in cerebrospinal fluid?
- Can be seen in cases of tubercular meningitis, especially after overnight refrigeration.
What can cause cerebrospinal fluid to appear oily?
radiographic contrast media
What are the key characteristics of a traumatic tap?
- Traumatic tap is characterized by an uneven distribution of blood
- And the formation of clots due to the activation of the coagulation pathway.
What is the appearance of the supernatant in a traumatic tap?
- The supernatant in a traumatic tap is not xanthochromic; it typically appears clear or red only.
What is the main reason for clot formation in a traumatic tap?
- Primarily due to the presence of clotting factors and the activation of the coagulation pathway.
What is the distribution pattern of the intracranial hemorrhage?
- Described as having an EVEN distribution.
Is there any clot formation associated with this intracranial hemorrhage?
- No, there is no clot formation mentioned in this case of intracranial hemorrhage.
What is the characteristic of the supernatant fluid in intracranial hemorhage?
Xanthocromic
What additional finding is included regarding intracranial hemorrhage?
- Erythrophagocytosis is mentioned as an additional finding
- Along with a positive (+) D-dimer indicating bleeding.
What is erythrophagocytosis, and what is observed microscopically in relation to macrophages?
- Macrophages are seen microscopically ingesting red blood cells (RBCs).
What is D-dimer, and what does it represent in the context of fibrin degradation?
- D-dimer is the end product of fibrin degradation
- Indicating the presence of ongoing blood clot formation and breakdown.
What is the common pathway in the COAGULATION pathway?
- The common pathway in the COAGULATION pathway involves factors 10, 5, 2, and 1.
How is Factor 10 activated?
- Factor 10 is activated by Factor 9 via the intrinsic pathway
- By Factor 7 via the extrinsic pathway.
What activates Factor 10 with the cofactor of Factor 5?
- Factor 10, with the cofactor of Factor 5, is activated to form Factor 2.
What does activated Factor 2 (F2) do?
- Activated Factor 2 (F2) will activate Factor 13 And 1
- Convert fibrinogen into fibrin.
What happens when Factor 1 (F1) is activated?
- Once Factor 1 (F1) is activated, it will form an unstable fibrin clot.
What is the role of Factor 13 (F13) in fibrin stabilization?
- Also known as fibrin-stabilizing factor
- Acts to stabilize the unstable fibrin clot
- Contributes to the second formation of a stabilized fibrin polymer
What is fibrinolysis, and how is it initiated?
- Fibrinolysis is the dissolution of a blood clot
- It is initiated by plasmin, which is the activated version of plasminogen, often through “UPA” (urokinase-type plasminogen activator).
What happens when plasmin acts on an unstable fibrin clot?
*It leads to the formation of fibrin degradation products.
What is the result of plasmin acting on a stable fibrin clot?
- When plasmin acts on a stable fibrin clot
- It results in the production of fragment D-dimer.
