Cerebro spinal fluid pleocytosis: A clinicopathologic analysis

Abstract

Background: Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) examination is very useful in patients of suspected CNS disease and the necessity of correlating it with the clinico-pathologic findings which will help in early diagnosis of CNS diseases and guide the further management of the disease. CSF examination with quantification of leukocytes and differential count of cellular subsets in the cerebrospinal fluid is a standard procedure in cases of suspected infectious conditions. Present study emphasises pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid along with other laboratory parameters. Materials and Methods: The study is consisting of 295 CSF samples from patients with clinically suspected CNS infections. The CSF findings were evaluated in all age group patients in relation to cell counts and pleocytosis. Results: In Physical examination of CSF colour, appearance and received quantity were evaluated. Maximum specimen was received in 1 year to 18 year age group. CSF pleocytosis (>5cells/µl) was present maximum (48%) in 1 month to less than 1 year age. Pleocytosis >5 leucocytes/µl was found in 121 (41%) samples out of 295 samples. Conclusion: CSF cell count examination is very common and useful investigation done for suspected various CNS diseases. Infectious and non-infectious diseases of CNS can cause pleocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid. The type of cells depends mainly on the clinical scenario. However it seems to vary with total cell count also, such as lymphocytes predominating at lower total cell counts while neutrophils are at higher total counts.