As Pune reports over 20 suspected cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, doctors explain why cerebrospinal fluid examination is done

But what is cerebrospinal fluid, and wherefore is it examined?

First, let’s find retired much astir GBS

Dr Pawan Ojha, manager of neurology astatine Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, said that it is simply a “neurological emergency” upset characterised by the abrupt onslaught of weakness successful the hands oregon legs and sometimes trouble successful oculus movements, and successful swallowing and speaking.

“It tin pb to abrupt breathing difficulties. Many patients archetypal acquisition weakness successful the hands oregon legs, but wrong a time oregon two, they cannot beryllium oregon crook successful bed. Few of them go truthful anemic that they are incapable to swallow oregon adjacent breathe. The information tin beryllium truthful accelerated that they tin spell connected a ventilator for breathing enactment wrong a time oregon so. However, astir cases are not accelerated and instrumentality astir 4-5 days to make specified symptoms,” said Dr Ojha.

Why does it occur?

It is an immunological absorption of the assemblage to immoderate infection, specified arsenic viral oregon sometimes bacterial, said Dr Ojha. “It attacks the immune strategy by damaging our nerves alternatively of targetting the microorganism oregon bacteria. This happens owed to the molecular mimicry mechanism. So, the nerves commencement to go anemic and are incapable to function,” said Dr Ojha.

Why is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) introspection done?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) introspection is indispensable for diagnosing assorted neurological diseases, said advisor neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad. “These see cardinal nervous system infections, specified arsenic meningitis and encephalitis. In GBS, the CSF introspection shows elevated protein, with mean oregon somewhat raised CSF protein. CSF sweetener is usually normal. GBS is usually a post-infectious (usually station viral) neurological illness, which results successful paralysis of arms and legs,” said Dr Kumar.

Here’s wherefore the introspection is done (Photo: Freepik)

Spinal introspection is carried retired by doing a lumbar puncture, said Dr Ojha. “The thought is to corroborate if it is GBS. In GBS, 1 tends to person excess proteins successful the spinal fluid and an abnormal achromatic humor compartment number successful the examination. It is an auxiliary test,” said Dr Ojha.

What other to note?

According to a September 2019 Nature Neurology review, CSF introspection chiefly rules retired causes of weakness different than GBS. It should beryllium performed during the archetypal valuation of the patient. It noted that the “classic finding” successful GBS combines an elevated CSF macromolecule level and a mean CSF compartment number (albumino-cytological dissociation).

“However, macromolecule levels are mean successful 30–50 per cent of patients successful the archetypal week aft illness onset and 10–30 per cent successful the 2nd week. Therefore, mean CSF macromolecule levels bash not regularisation retired a diagnosis of GBS,” it read.

DISCLAIMER: This nonfiction is based connected accusation from the nationalist domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your wellness practitioner earlier starting immoderate routine.