How can I interpret my lumbar puncture results?
If you want to interpret the results of the lumbar puncture, you must first be aware of the normal values assigned to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which may vary in every laboratory. This means that you should find out the normal values your laboratory has assigned CSF so that you can interpret the results of the lumbar puncture appropriately. In general, however, the results of lumbar puncture are either normal or abnormal, and if it is abnormal, there may be a number of causes. Different values measured in lumbar puncture include the appearance of CSF, pressure and overall protein, as well as glucose, cell number and presence of microorganisms or cancer cells. Your doctor will be able to diagnose any condition that you might have based on its evaluation of all combined values.
Normal CSF is usually a clear and colorless appearance, and if the results of the lumbar counters show that your CSF is cloudy or colored, it is abnormal. In general, the cloudy CSF indication of an infection or an increase in protein orCesta blood cells. Red CSF signals bleed or spinal cord obstacle. Other color CSF, such as brown, orange or yellow, is a sign of previous bleeding or increases protein. In some cases, the procedure of the lumbar plate itself causes blood to appear on the results, causing a confusing diagnosis.
Abnormal results of lumbar pressure punch CSF, protein and glucose are either reduced or increased values measured in relation to normal values assigned to the laboratory conducting the test. Reduced pressure of CSF may be due to a number of conditions, including fainting, shock or tumor in the skull; The increased pressure on the other side indicates an increase in pressure inside the skull. In the overall CSF protein, the reduced value is a sign that CSF is rapidly produced - an increased value of protein signals of different different conditions, such as may be blood in liquid, diabetes or infections. Reduced glucose measurement indicates bacterial noBo fungal infections, as well as hypoglycaemia, while increased glucose indicates high blood pressure.
The results of your lumbar puncture can also measure the number of CSF cells. There are only white blood cells in CSF. However, an increase in the number of white blood cells can signal different conditions, including abscess, infection and stroke. There should be no red blood cells in CSF, so the presence of any red blood cells indicates bleeding. In some cases, bleeding may be the result of the lumbar procedure itself.
Other values you could see in the results of the lumbar puncture are the presence of any cancer cells or microorganisms. Normal CSF contains no cancer cells or microorganisms, so the presence of any suggests an abnormal result. If cancer cells are present, it means that cancer could be in the brain, csf or spinal cord. Microorganisms that include bacteria, fungi and viruses are a sign of illness or infections.