title: Physical properties of cerebrospinal fluid of relevance to shunt function. 2: The effect of protein upon CSF surface tension and contact angle.
abstract: CSF surface tension has received little study, and yet it will effect the pressure at which shunt valves operate, and by influencing the degree of hydrophobicity (contact angle) will alter the attraction between bacteria and neurosurgical prostheses. A study is therefore presented of the effect of protein content upon the surface tension of CSF and its contact angle to silicone rubber. Both of these quantities fell throughout the normal range of CSF protein, but above 1 g/l, additional protein had little effect, and the results obtained were similar to that reported for plasma. The effect of surface tension on the opening and closing pressures of hydrocephalus shunt valves and of contact angle in the adhesion of bacteria to neurosurgical implants is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Brydon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Harkness
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bayston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013500:Surface Tension; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D012826:Silicone Elastomers