New Technique uses to Evaluate Cerebrospinal Fluid Lactic Acid as an Aid Differential Diagnosis of Bacterial and Viral Meningitis

Abstract

The level of lactic acid in cerebrospinal fluid has been suggested as useful diagnostic. Parameter to differentiate between bacterial and viral meningitis,especially in patients partially treated before admission to hospital. A concentration of> (35 mgm/dl) determined by an enzymatic methods has been considered in several studies to provide definite evidence of meningitis of bacterial origin,whereas lower level indicates no bacterial involvement, over past (20) months we had analyzed by the enzymatic methods, the lactate level in (302) cerebrospinal fluids submitted from adults patients with various conditionsinvolving in central nervous system. Fifty fluids had lactate levels of> (35 mg/dl) of which (162) were cases of infective meningitis of varying etiology.In this adults study the lactate level in the cerebrospinal fluid did provide equivocal evidence of bacterial infection and provide assistance to any greater degree than the standard parameters of leucocytes counts, protein and glucose contents in the differential diagnosis of bacterial meningitis from that of any other etiology.