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[Changes in the cerebrospinal fluid lactate concentration of children with cranio-cerebral injuries]
Insights
Cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels in children correlate with craniocerebral trauma severity. Levels normalize within weeks, and are generally lower in pediatric patients compared to adults.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Craniocerebral trauma in children presents unique diagnostic challenges.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis offers insights into traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between CSF lactate levels and the severity of craniocerebral trauma in pediatric patients.
- To establish normative CSF lactate values for children and compare them to adult data.
Summary:
- Examination of CSF in 43 children revealed a direct correlation between lactate concentration and trauma severity (mild, moderate, severe).
- CSF lactate levels normalized within 7-10 days for moderate TBI and 3 weeks for severe TBI.
- Pediatric CSF lactate values were found to be lower than those reported for adults, with age-dependent variations noted in children.
Impact:
- CSF lactate can serve as a potential biomarker for assessing TBI severity in children.
- Understanding age-specific normative values is crucial for accurate clinical interpretation.
- This research contributes to improved diagnostic and prognostic strategies for pediatric TBI.
Abstract:
Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid in 43 children with craniocerebral trauma revealed a dependence of the lactate content on the degree of the injury (9.2 +/- 1.2 mg% in mild trauma; 13.5 +/- 1.7 mg% in moderate trauma; 18.3 +/- 1.7 mg% in severe trauma) and the clinical course. The cerebrospinal fluid is normalized 7-10 days after a moderate brain trauma, and in 3 weeks after a severe trauma. The findings suggest that the values of the cerebrospinal fluid lactate content are lower in children than in adults (9.7 mg%, on the average, in children under 10 years of age, and 11.3 mg% in those over 10 years of age).