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Cerebrospinal fluid and serum concentrations of beta‐trace protein during pregnancy
Author(s) -
McArthur J.,
Hill J.,
Paech M. J.,
Dodd P. H.,
Bennett E.J.,
Holden J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2004.04067.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebrospinal fluid , nephelometry , prospective cohort study , csf albumin , creatinine , serum concentration , pregnancy , caesarean section , beta (programming language) , endocrinology , gastroenterology , immunology , biology , antibody , genetics , computer science , programming language
Summary We conducted a prospective observational study among a cohort of 40 term parturients undergoing spinal anaesthesia for elective Caesarean section, to determine the concentration of β‐trace protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum. Serum and CSF samples, taken at the time of dural puncture, were assayed by nephelometry. The mean serum β‐trace protein concentration was 0.39 mg.l −1 and the mean CSF concentration was 27.9 mg.l −1 , giving a mean ratio of CSF to serum concentration of 76. This ratio is higher than that published for non‐pregnant females and for males because of both a higher mean CSF and a lower mean serum β‐trace protein concentration. The concentration correlated positively with both serum creatinine and gestational age. If these concentrations are used to estimate the normal range, we propose that the nephelometric measurement of β‐trace protein might prove a useful diagnostic test for cerebrospinal fluid‐cutaneous fistula in parturients.