Diagnostic implications of CSF in Lumbar Disc Herniation
1. Cerebrospinal fluid protein concentrations in patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation.
The increase of the CSF total protein concentration in sciatica without spinal block is assumed to be due to leak of plasma proteins into the CSF from the nerve root. A relationship between CSF protein concentrations and certain clinical parameters has been found.
Skouen JS et al studied 180 adult patients admitted to the Neurological Department, Haukeland Hospital in Bergen, Norway, for a period of 5 years from 1984 to 1988. One hundred fifty-seven patients were followed up 3.9-9.0 years after admittance to the Neurological Department.
The purpose of this study was to find out if the total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein concentration could predict the outcome of lumbar disc surgery or conservative treatment in patients with sciatica.
Elevated CSF total protein concentration was related to chronic leg pain, leg pain, and subjective physical disability at follow-up. Hence the authors advocated, CSF total protein concentration can be regarded as an indicator of the functional status of the nerve root and a prognostic factor in patients with sciatica.
Procedure for the study:
At myelography, 10 ml of CSF was collected for analysis. The patients were evaluated for involvement of the nerve root and/or the dural sac, respectively. The neurologic parameters investigated were: straight leg raising tests, paresis, disturbances of sensibility, and altered reflexes.
At follow-up, the patients were asked to fill in questionnaires concerning job function, sick leave or disability pension, subjective physical disability and pain perception, and a clinical examination with the same neurologic parameters was performed.
Markers of nerve tissue injury can be analyzed in the cerebrospinal fluid, allowing characterization of the cell types involved and the degree of disease in patients with neurologic disorders. Researchers Brisby H et al went little further to investigate specific proteins in CSF for analysis in lumbar disc herniation and sciatica.
2. Markers of nerve tissue injury in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with lumbar disc herniation and sciatica.
The light subunit of neurofilament protein, S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, and glial fibrillary acidic protein were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with lumbar disc herniation and in control patients by Brisby H et al to determine whether nerve root injury caused by disc herniation increases the levels of nerve and glial cell injury markers in the cerebrospinal fluid.
The findings suggested patients with disc herniation and sciatica have increased concentrations of neurofilament protein and S-100 in the cerebrospinal fluid, which indicates damage of axons and Schwann cells in the affected nerve root.
Procedure for the study:
Cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained by preoperative lumbar puncture in patients who underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation and in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery (control group), neurofilament protein (light subunit) and glial fibrillary acidic protein were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase by radioimmunoassay and luminescence immunoassay, respectively. In the disc herniation group the concentrations of the four markers were evaluated regarding possible correlation to patient history, computed tomographic findings, and clinical findings.
The increase of the CSF total protein concentration in sciatica without spinal block is assumed to be due to leak of plasma proteins into the CSF from the nerve root. A relationship between CSF protein concentrations and certain clinical parameters has been found.
Skouen JS et al studied 180 adult patients admitted to the Neurological Department, Haukeland Hospital in Bergen, Norway, for a period of 5 years from 1984 to 1988. One hundred fifty-seven patients were followed up 3.9-9.0 years after admittance to the Neurological Department.
The purpose of this study was to find out if the total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein concentration could predict the outcome of lumbar disc surgery or conservative treatment in patients with sciatica.
Elevated CSF total protein concentration was related to chronic leg pain, leg pain, and subjective physical disability at follow-up. Hence the authors advocated, CSF total protein concentration can be regarded as an indicator of the functional status of the nerve root and a prognostic factor in patients with sciatica.
Procedure for the study:
At myelography, 10 ml of CSF was collected for analysis. The patients were evaluated for involvement of the nerve root and/or the dural sac, respectively. The neurologic parameters investigated were: straight leg raising tests, paresis, disturbances of sensibility, and altered reflexes.
At follow-up, the patients were asked to fill in questionnaires concerning job function, sick leave or disability pension, subjective physical disability and pain perception, and a clinical examination with the same neurologic parameters was performed.
Markers of nerve tissue injury can be analyzed in the cerebrospinal fluid, allowing characterization of the cell types involved and the degree of disease in patients with neurologic disorders. Researchers Brisby H et al went little further to investigate specific proteins in CSF for analysis in lumbar disc herniation and sciatica.
2. Markers of nerve tissue injury in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with lumbar disc herniation and sciatica.
The light subunit of neurofilament protein, S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, and glial fibrillary acidic protein were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with lumbar disc herniation and in control patients by Brisby H et al to determine whether nerve root injury caused by disc herniation increases the levels of nerve and glial cell injury markers in the cerebrospinal fluid.
The findings suggested patients with disc herniation and sciatica have increased concentrations of neurofilament protein and S-100 in the cerebrospinal fluid, which indicates damage of axons and Schwann cells in the affected nerve root.
Procedure for the study:
Cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained by preoperative lumbar puncture in patients who underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation and in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery (control group), neurofilament protein (light subunit) and glial fibrillary acidic protein were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase by radioimmunoassay and luminescence immunoassay, respectively. In the disc herniation group the concentrations of the four markers were evaluated regarding possible correlation to patient history, computed tomographic findings, and clinical findings.
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