Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid parameters in preterm infants with intraventricular reservoirs.
OBJECTIVE
Intraventricular reservoirs (IVRs) are used to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in neonates with post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD). The objectives of this case-control study were to evaluate changes in CSF parameters in serial IVR taps and to compare CSF parameters in culture-positive and -negative specimens.


METHODS
Clinical and laboratory data from serial (up to 7) reservoir taps at 5- to 8-day intervals were collected on preterm neonates with PHVD and IVR insertion.


RESULTS
The median (range) gestational age and birth weight of our cohort (n=52) was 26 (23 to 33) weeks and 796 (450 to 1620) grams. Significant decreases in percentage of CSF neutrophils and protein were noted in later taps, compared with the first tap at insertion of IVR. Five (9.6%) infants had positive CSF cultures on 10 occasions. Compared with negative specimens (n=266), the mean (s.d.) proportion of neutrophils in CSF (55% (33) vs 26% (23)) was significantly higher and ratio of CSF to serum glucose significantly lower (0.19 (0.08) vs 0.29 (0.13)) in culture-positive specimens (n=10). The area under the curve was 0.82 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72 to 0.93) for CSF white blood cell (WBC) count, 0.79 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.90) for CSF protein and 0.75 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.95) for percentage of neutrophils. The sensitivities and specificities for diagnosis of infection was 90 and 63% for CSF WBC count > 42 mm(-3), 89 and 58% for CSF protein at > 250 mg dl(-1) and 80 and 67% for CSF neutrophil proportion >31.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
CSF parameters from IVR taps, specifically proportion of neutrophils and proteins are higher at insertion and progressively normalize over time. Although they vary widely, CSF WBC, protein and neutrophil proportion using higher cut-off values have good sensitivity in the diagnosis of infection.
Carman and Ann Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. mbajaj@dmc.org
M
M
Bajaj
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M
Lulic-Botica
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G
Natarajan
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007239:Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009504:Neutrophils; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins