Cerebrospinal fluid cytomorphology in neonates.
A prospective cytologic study of cerebrospinal fluids from 57 full-term neonates confirmed the previously reported cellular polymorphism. The cells were classified as (1) exogenous cells, (2) blood and bone-marrow cells, (3) histiomonocytes, (4) cell aggregates and (5) "free" cells. Histiomonocytes were a constant feature in these fluids and were the cause of neonatal pleiocytosis. Various degrees of activation could be recognized. The so-called inactive forms were closely related to brain damage. Identification of erythrophages and siderophages had diagnostic significance. The presence of fat in macrophages (lipophages) suggested a serious developmental disorder. The free cells were incompletely identified, as were the cell aggregates, which probably originate in the meningeal lining. Both require further study.
D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic