Common Properties of CSF

[Table Outline]

• Opening pressure (cm H₂O)
  • Normal values: 5–20
  • Acute bacterial meningitis: >20
  • Subacute meningitis: normal to increased
  • Viral infection: normal to increased
  • Pseudotumor cerebri: increased
  • Cerebral hemorrhage: increased
• WBC count (cells/mm³)
  • Normal values: <5
  • Acute bacterial meningitis: 100–700
  • Subacute meningitis: 500–5,000
  • Viral infection: 100–2,000
  • Pseudotumor cerebri: normal
  • Cerebral hemorrhage: bloody sample
• Glucose (mg/dL)
  • Normal values: 50–100 (or 60–70% of blood glucose)
  • Acute bacterial meningitis: decreased
  • Subacute meningitis: decreased
  • Viral infection: normal
  • Pseudotumor cerebri: normal
  • Cerebral hemorrhage: normal
• Protein (mg/dL)
  • Normal values: 15–45
  • Acute bacterial meningitis: approximately 100
  • Subacute meningitis: increased
  • Viral infection: normal or increased
  • Pseudotumor cerebri: normal or decreased
  • Cerebral hemorrhage: increased

Outline

• Opening pressure (cm H₂O)
• WBC count (cells/mm³)
• Glucose (mg/dL)
• Protein (mg/dL)