Lumbar Puncture

is a procedure by which CSF is taken out from the
subacacbooid space.

Normally, CSF is drawn by introducing a needle between the 3rd and the 4th lumbar vertebrae.

Histological and biochemical study of CSF gives an indication about
various disease processes affecting the CNS.

CSF changes in common disorders

Pressure

is increased in:

  • subarachnoid hemorrhage,
  • acute bacterial meningitis, and
  • tuberculous meningitis.

Color

is blood stained in:

subarachnoid hemorrhage

cloudy in:

  • acute bacterial meningitis and
  • tuberculous meningitis.

RBC:

is increased in:

subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Glucose:

is decreased in

  • acute bacterial meningitis and
  • tuberculous meningitis.

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subarachnoid hemorrhage

  • pressure incr
  • RBC incr
  • colour is blood stained

acute bacterial meningitis

  • pressure incr
  • glucose decr
  • color is cloudy

tuberculous meningitis

  • pressure incr
  • proteins incr
  • glucose decr
  • color is cloudy

Proteins:

are increased in

  • subarachnoid hemorrhage,
  • acute bacterial meningitis,
  • viral meningitis,
  • multiple sclerosis, and
  • tuberculous meningitis

Microorganisms:

They are demonstrated in

infective meningitis.

viral menigitis

  • proteins incr

infective meningitis.

  • microorganisms demostrated

multiple sclerosis

  • proteins incr