A 64-year-old male has been an in-patient in your Intensive Care Unit for one week following a subarachnoid haemorrhage.
The following data were obtained from a CSF sample taken from the external ventricular drain:
|
Parameter |
Patient Value |
Normal Adult Range |
|
Glucose |
3.8 mmol/L |
2.2 – 3.9 |
|
Protein |
0.46 G/L |
0.15 – 0.5 |
|
White Cell Count |
20x106 /L* |
< 5 |
|
Red Cell Count |
10 000x106 /L* |
< 5 |
Interpret these results.
The WCC is elevated but the WCC:RCC ratio is normal (1:500) and represents normal findings after sub-arachnoid haemorrhage but does not exclude infection.
This is a faily straightforward data interpretation question. 10,000 / 20 = 500; which is the perfect ratio. This CSF is not infected, it just has blood in it.
Of course, in order to make a more accurate analysis, it would be good to also know the serum WCC, so that one may calculate the proper ratio.
A more detailed discussion of CSF analysis is available elsewhere.