CSF Flashcards

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1
Q

List causes of increased CSF pressure

A
  • Changes in systemic blood pressure
  • Space occupying mass (tumour, abscess)
  • Secondary to trauma/hypoxic injury (haemorrhage, oedema)
  • Hypercapnoea (increases cerebral blood flow therefore CSF pressure; may exacerbate cerebral oedema)
  • Inflammation, especially of the arachnoid villi (reduced absorption of CSF)
  • Venous compression increases blood volume in the cranial cavity and compression of the CSF space thus increasing CSF pressure (iatrogenic or post jugular thrombosis)
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2
Q

List causes of xanthochromia

A
  • Haemorrhage (usually previous)
  • Inflammation
  • Increased protein
  • Direct bilirubin leakage
  • Leakage of indirect bilirubin across a damaged BBB
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3
Q

List common changes to CSF cytology and possible causes (broad categories rather than specific diseases)

A
  • Increased large mononuclear cells: diseases of axonal degeneration, some encephalitis viruses (EEEV [also some neutropils], WEEV, WNV [primarily lymphocytes], Kunjin [also some neutrophils])
  • Increased neutrophils: Encephalomyelitis, bacterial meningitis, parasitism, any disease with extensive inflammation
  • Increased eosinophils: Severe parasitic disease.
  • Increased lactate: EEEV, trauma, brain abscess (may be the only abnormality of CSF with a brain abscess)
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