title: The optic nerve: a new window into cerebrospinal fluid composition?
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and composition are generally thought to be homogeneous within small limits throughout all CSF compartments. CSF sampled during lumbar puncture therefore should be representative for all CSF compartments. On the basis of clinical findings, histology and biochemical markers, we present for the first time strong evidence that the subarachnoid spaces (SAS) of the optic nerve (ON) can become separated from other CSF compartments in certain ON disorders, thus leading to an ON sheath compartment syndrome. This may result in an abnormal concentration gradient of CSF molecular markers determined in locally sampled CSF compared with CSF taken during lumbar puncture.
authors.affiliation: University of Basel, Eye Institute, Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland. Killer@ksa.ch
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Killer
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Jaggi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flammer
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D015170:Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D054834:Lipocalins; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D054834:Lipocalins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C022466:prostaglandin R2 D-isomerase