CSF Flashcards
What is the process of CSF production?
Ultrafiltration of plasma and active secretion
What structure absorbs CSF to keep it at a constant pressure
Arachnoid villi
Which direction does CSF circulate?
Cranial to caudal within the subarachnoid space
What are the functions of CSF?
acts as a shock absorber to protect the brain and spinal cord from trauma
Regulates CNS pressure and chemical composition
Provides buoyancy to reduce pressure at brain base
Transport nutrients, hormones, and metabolites
What is the normal color of CSF?
Its normally completely clear
No answer but read: Different diseases can cause similar changes in CSF. Bacterial meningitis and Eastern equine viral encephalitis both cause pleocytosis (many cells)
What are some indications for CSF analysis?
Abnormal neurologic exam
Fever of undetermined origin
Neck or limb pain
What are some advantages of CSF analysis?
Safe, inexpensive, establish diagnosis
What are disadvantages of CSF analysis?
general anesthesia, prompt processing required, abnormalities non-specific
What are the 2 locations to collect CSF?
Lumbar cisterna or lumbosacral interspace
Why does CSF need to be collected in an anticoagulant tube?
CSF will not naturally clot but if there’s any blood contaminants than it will
Why must CSF be processed within 30 minutes?
Cells deteriorate quickly due to low protein
What are the 2 gross characteristics that can be seen in CSF
Color and clarity
What is yellow CSF causes by macrophage output called?
Xantho (yellow) chromia (color)
prior hemorrhage causes it
What is the most abundant protein in CSF?
Albumin
Important: What is increased protein concentrations in CSF called?
Albuminocytologic dissociation
How are blood cells counted in CSF?
Manually with a hemocytometer
What is an increased cell count without increased protein count called?
pleocytosis
A lot of overlap among diseases causing pleocytosis
Does normal CSF have RBC?
No
What are most cells present in CSF?
Large mononuclear cells and lymphocyte
What is an increased level of neutrophils called (above 25% neutrophils)
Neutrophilic pleocytosis
What is it called with over 70% of CSF is mononuclear cells or lymphocytes?
Mononuclear pleocytosis
What is it called when there is an increased level of lymphocytes? above 70%
lymphocytic pleocytosis
What is it called when there is over 1% eosinophils?
Eosinophilic pleocytosis
