Exam 4: Review Flashcards
Transudate or Exudate?
Occur during pressure changes; systemic disorders that disrupt fluid filtration, fluid reabsorption, or both.
Transudate
Transudate or Exudate?
Occur because of inflammation of blood vessels; body cavity membrane damage, or decreased reabsorption by the lymphatic system.
Exudate
Transudate or Exudate?
Fluid moves but not proteins
Transudate
Transudate or Exudate?
Both fluid and protein move.
Exudate
Transudate or Exudate?
Systemic disorders such as:
Congestive heart failure
Hepatic cirrhosis
Nephrotic syndrome
Transudate
Transudate or Exudate?
Pathological processes:
Infections
Inflammations
Hemorrhages
Malignancies
Exudate
What are lab tests to differentiate between Transudate and Exudate?
-Fluid appearance
-Specific gravity
-Amylase
-Glucose
-LD
-Proteins
What is the appearance of transudate fluid?
clear
colorless or straw
What is the appearance of exudate fluid?
cloudy
cloudy/yellow/bloody
What is the volume difference between transudate and exudate?
Transudate: smaller
Exudate: copious
Transudate or Exudate?
Specific gravity: < 1.015
Total protein: < 3.0 g/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase: < 200 IU
Transudate
Transudate or Exudate?
Specific gravity: > 1.015
Total protein: > 3.0 g/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase: > 200 IU
Exudate
Transudate or Exudate?
WBC count: < 1000/uL
Transudate
( > 1000/uL for exudate)
Is spontaneous clotting possible with transudate or exudate?
Exudate
Lumbar puncture is the intervertebral space between lumbar vertebrae L___ and L___.
Why is it done here?
3, 4
avoids damage to the spinal cord in adults because the spinal cord does not extend that far down.
What is the function of CSF?
-cushioning and lubricating the brain and spinal column.
- circulates in the space between two membranes, the arachnoid and the pia mater.
-It bathes the brain and spinal cord and serves as a nutrient and also metabolic waste exchange fluid.
-CSF adjusts its volume in response to changes in cerebral vessel changes
What are the two sources of CSF?
- the tufts of capillary blood vessels in the cerebral ventricles, choroid plexus, that produce 70% of the CSF.
-Approximately 30% is formed by the ependymal lining cells of the ventricles and the cerebral/subarachnoid space.
What is normal CSF volume in adults?
Neonates?
90-150 mL
10-60 mL
What is the rate of CSF production?
500 mL/day
CSF Bloody or hemolyzed could be due to…
-Traumatic tap: Inadvertent blood vessel trauma from puncture
Intracerebral or
-subarachnoid hemorrhage (ICH or SAH): MUST be differentiated from traumatic tap
Oily CSF could be due to…
radiographic contrast media
In __________ , overnight CSF refrigeration may cause a “weblike pellicle” (scum) to form. This is not clotting!
tubercular meningitis
Traumatic tap or Intracerebral Hemorrhage?
-Serum protein contamination may cause xanthochromic supernatant
-Uneven distribution of blood in collection tubes (Heaviest in first)
-Sample is often (not always) clotted due to plasma fibrinogen contamination; may even have bloody streaks.
Traumatic tap
Traumatic tap or Intracerebral Hemorrhage?
-Clear supernatant if recent, but xanthochromic supernatant if old!
(Good clue but not specific)
-Blood evenly distributed through collection tubes (‘Best bet’)
-NO blood clots
-Siderophages highly indicative!
Intracerebral Hemorrhage
What is the order of CSF tubes by department?
Tube 1 → For chem and serology
Tube 2 → Micro
Tube 3 → Hematology
Tube 4 → Frozen (‘Just in case’ tube)
How soon does CSF need to be tested?
Test STAT! If not, refrigerate!
-Cell count must be done with-in 1 hour
Can leftover CSF fluid be discarded?
Never! save in case more tests are ordered.
What temp for mirco CSF tubes?
RT and set up ASAP
What temp for chem/sero CSF tubes?
may be frozen after centrifugation
Lots of neutrophils in CSF indicates?
Lots of monocytes?
bacterial infection
viral infection
Plasma cells in CSF fluid could indicate…
Multiple Sclerosis
Macrophages in CSF fluid could indicate…
Viral and bacterial meningitides
Also, any RBCs in CSF from long-term cause
a protein that helps stabilize the internal skeleton of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain.
Tau
-Tau represents the subunit protein of one of the major hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD), the neurofibrillary tangles, and is therefore of major interest as an indicator of disease mechanisms.
Tau transferrin is made primarily by the CNS. Discovering the protein band on protein electrophoresis of fluid from the ear or nose confirms diagnosis of…
otorrhea and rhinorrhea
Protein electrophoresis - Tau transferrin:
other protein bands include…
transferrin and small amounts of alpha 1 antitrypsin
Findings of oligoclonal bands in the gamma region in CSF and not in serum may help establish a diagnosis of…
multiple sclerosis
Other CSF disorders in which oligoclonal bands are present are:
-Subacute sclerosing -panencephalitis
-Neurosyphilis
-Bacterial, cryptococcal, and viral meningitis
-Acute necrotizing
-encephalitis
-Human immunodeficiency virus type I infections
-Gillian-Barre syndrome
Guillain-Barre syndrome:
An elevation in CSF protein (_____ g/L) without an elevation in white blood cells. The increase in CSF protein is thought to reflect the widespread inflammation of the nerve roots
> 0.55 g/L
Diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome depends what clinical presentation?
Sudden onset of acute ascending paralysis (flaccid paralysis in limbs)
Key indicators of MS:
Maybe lymphocytes, monocytes, and plasma cells
Oligoclonal bands in the gamma region in CSF
Elevated TP
Myelin basic protein (MBP)*
Normal levels of MBP are less than 4 ng/mL
During acute exacerbations of MS, MBP levels can be in excess of ____ ng/mL
8
How can the degree of permeability of the blood-brain barrier be evaluated?
quantitative measurements of albumin in the CSF compared to serum albumin
-CSF/serum albumin index
CSF/serum albumin index:
-An index value of <__ is considered consistent with an intact barrier.
-Values of _____ are interpreted as slight impairment
-_____ moderate impairment
9
9-14
14-30
CSF/serum albumin index:
-______ severe impairment
-Values of ______ indicate complete breakdown of barrier
30-100
> 100
Viral meningitis:
Lactate-
protein-
glucose-
Lactate- decreased*
protein- increased
glucose- decreased
Bacterial Meningitis (neutrophilic pleocytosis):
Lactate-
protein-
glucose-
Lactate- increased*
protein- increased
glucose- decreased
What is the normal appearance and viscosity of synovial fluid?
-Appears clear and pale yellow
-Egg-white consistency
-Forms continuous string when poured
The viscosity of synovial fluid is due to
hyaluronic acid
(Essential for proper joint lubrication)