RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cerebrospinal fluid leucocyte counts in healthy neonates
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F357
OP F358
DO 10.1136/adc.2005.082826
VO 91
IS 5
A1 A Martín-Ancel
A1 A García-Alix
A1 S Salas
A1 F del Castillo
A1 F Cabañas
A1 J Quero
YR 2006
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/91/5/F357.abstract
AB Objectives: To determine the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell (WBC) count of normal term neonates, and compare the CSF WBC profile of normal and symptomatic infants without infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Method: Neonates were included if (a) they were at risk of congenital Toxoplasma infection and had undergone a lumbar puncture to assess CNS involvement, and (b) serial specific serum IgG and IgM determinations had ruled out congenital infection. According to neonatal chart reviews, 30 consecutive patients without CNS infection were classified as normal (absolutely asymptomatic) or symptomatic (any kind of symptoms). Results: CSF WBC count was higher in 11 symptomatic (7/mm3, 0–30/mm3) than in 19 normal (1/mm3, 0–5/mm3) neonates (p<0.01). Conclusion: Normal neonatal CSF contains up to 5 WBCs/mm3. Mild pleocytosis can be found in symptomatic infants without CNS infection.