[Importance of laboratory findings in differentiating cranio-cerebral injuries of mild and moderate severity]

The authors discuss the results of clinical and laboratory examination of 191 patients among whom 93 had a mild and 98 a moderately severe cranio-cerebral injury. The dynamics of changes in the cerebrospinal fluid, including the changes in its cell composition, and the changes in the morphological compositions of blood during the post-traumatic period were studied. Different aspects of metabolism characterizing the functional condition of the liver, kidneys and adrenals were studied. The condition of blood coagulation was determined with due account for its rheological properties. The results of the statistical analysis of the material obtained show that in judging the depth of the pathophysiological disturbances and differentiating the mild and moderated degrees of cranio-cerebral injury severity it is advisable to use such laboratory tests as those for disorders of the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid (erythrochromia, hyperproteinochromia, pleocytosis, cytological values) and blood (leukocytosis with a shift of the neutrophils to the left, increased Krebs' index, increased ESR), tests for disorders of carbohydrate and protein metabolism (fructosuria, dysproteinemia), for the degree of intensified blood coagulation activity and tests for abnormalities in the renal function (albuminuria, microhematuria).