All issues > Volume 47(5); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(5):543-546. Published online May 15, 2004.

Interpretation of Traumatic Lumbar Puncture in Aseptic Meningitis

Su Jin SJ Sung¹, Jung J Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yeosu Chonnam Hospital, Yeosu, Korea

Correspondence Su Jin SJ Sung ,Email: sujin282001@yahoo.com

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?.3(standard deviation), significantly lower than 47.3?9.5 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.

Keywords :Traumatic lumbar puncture, Cerebrospinal fluid, Aseptic meningitis