Interpretation of Traumatic Lumbar Puncture in Aseptic Meningitis.
- Author:
Su Jin SUNG
1
;
In Jung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Yeosu Chonnam Hospital, Yeosu, Korea. sujin282001@yahoo.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Traumatic lumbar puncture;
Cerebrospinal fluid;
Aseptic meningitis
- MeSH:
Cell Count;
Cerebrospinal Fluid;
Diagnostic Errors;
Erythrocytes;
Humans;
Jeollanam-do;
Leukocytes;
Leukocytosis;
Medical Records;
Meningitis;
Meningitis, Aseptic*;
Retrospective Studies;
Spinal Puncture*
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2004;47(5):543-546
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to find out a useful method that can predict the true leukocytosis in blood-contaminated cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) due to traumatic lumbar puncture(LP), using white and red cell counts of sanguineous CSF and peripheral blood. METHODS: From May 2001 to December 2002, among 1,247 patients presenting symptoms of meningitis who had received LP at Chonnam Hospital, 126 patients were included in this study who had undergone a second LP due to a traumatic first one. According to the final results of second LP, they were devided into two groups, aseptic meningitis group; and normal CSF group. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively, the proportions of white blood cells to red blood cells were obtained in the peripheral blood(WBC:RBCBlood) and CSF(WBC:RBCCSF), based on the results of the traumatic first LP and simultaneously performed peripheral blood count. The WBC:RBCCSF/WBC:RBCBlood ratio was calculated in each patient. RESULTS: The WBC:RBCCSF/WBC:RBCBlood of the normal CSF group was 13.5+/-7.3(standard deviation), significantly lower than 47.3+/-39.5 of the aseptic meningitis group. CONCLUSION: The WBC:RBCCSF/WBC:RBCBlood is a useful value to predict frank leukocytosis in the blood-contaminated CSF due to traumatic LP, but all clinical and laboratory informations must be considered before deciding on a treatment strategy to minimize the risk of misdiagnosis.
