Ventriculo-lumbar gradient of concentration of total cerebrospinal fluid proteins: 2.- Influence of CSF drainage by ventriculoatrial shunt

Abstract

On a previous paper, based upon the data obtained from comparative studies of cerebrospinal fluid samples of two groups of patients with neurocysticercosis in activity, one with patency, the other one with blockage of the spinal subarachnoid space, evidence was presented that the concentration gradient of proteins along the neuraxis was the consequence of the escape of water from cerebrospinal fluid. The second paper is a continuance of that one. The material for this survey consisted of the clinical records of 11 patients with neurocysticercosis who during the course of the disease presented severe intracranial hypertension which required ventriculoatrial shunt as an emergency operation in order to allow survival. After surgery, it was observed a marked improvement in the clinical picture. Later, it was noticed a large increase in the protein content of the spinal fluid of the majority of the patients, as compared with the results verified prior to surgery. However, in these spinal fluid samples the increase in protein content was observed without a simultaneous rise in cell count, suggesting an improvement in the inflammatory condition. It seems very likely that this large elevation of the protein content in the subarachnoid fluid is the consequence of a reduction in the spinal fluid flow rate due to the ventricle-venous shunt.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)