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CSF Leukocyte
Aka: CSF Leukocyte, Cerebrospinal Fluid Cell Leukocyte, CSF White Blood Cell, CSF Cell Count, Pleocytosis, CSF WBC
- See Also
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Examination
- Cerebrospinal Fluid
- Lumbar Puncture
- Interpretation: Normal Findings
- No Polymorphonuclear Lymphocytes (Neutrophils)
- Normal CSF may have 1-2 PMNs present
- Adults: 5 or less WBC/mm3
- Newborns: 20 or less WBC/mm3
- Interpretation: Correction of WBCs for CSF RBC
- Adults
- One WBC for every 500-1000 CSF RBCs
- Infants
- One WBC for every 1000 CSF RBCs
- Lyons (2017) Ann Emerg Med 69(5): 622-31 [PubMed]
- Interpretation: Cell Differential
- Differential does not distinguish Bacterial from viral
- Lymphocyte predominance in 10% Bacterial Meningitis
- Monocytes (Up to 50 cells/mm3)
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Eosinophils
- Intracranial Parasite infection
- Aseptic Meningitis
- Malignancy
- Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
- Interpretation: Pleocytosis (WBCs in CSF) Causes
- Bacterial Meningitis
- PMNs predominate
- CSF WBCs >100/mm3 in 99% of cases (>1000 for most)
- Viral Meningitis
- Lymphocytes predominate
- CSF WBCs usually <100/mm3
- Chronic intracranial inflammation (Lymphocytes)
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Thrombosis
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- CNS Parasitic Infection (Eosinophils predominate)
- Carcinomatous Meningitis (<100 cells)
- Interpretation: Examination pointers
- Acetic acid lyses CSF RBCs but leaves CSF WBCs intact
- Methylene blue distinguishes PMNs and Lymphocytes
- References
- Kooiker in Roberts (1998) Procedures in ER, p. 1067-75
- Ravel (1995) Lab Medicine, Mosby, p. 294-9
- Tunkel in Mandell (2000) Infectious Disease, p. 974-8
- Seehusen (2003) Am Fam Physician 68:1103-8 [PubMed]