Electrolyte concentrations in serum and cerebro-spinal fluid in normal and hydrocephalic infants

ABSTRACT

Serum and cerebro-spinal fluid [CSF] sodium and potassium concentrations were studied in twenty hydrocephalic infants and compared with twenty normal controls, pre-operatively and after a ventriculojugular shunt operation. The results showed a significant reduction in C.S.F. sodium and potassium in hydrocephalic infants and correlation studies showed a significant positive correlation between serum, C.S.F. potassium and serum C.S.F. sodium in hydrocephalic infants denoting loss of the active secretary mechanism of the choroid plexus. Post-operatively the same patients showed a significant drop in sodium and potassium both in C.S.F. and serum but positive correlation was not observed i.e. no correlation between serum and C.S.F. sodium nor between serum and C.S.F. potassium proving restoration of the active regulatory mechanism of choroids plexus and blood-brain barrier. Possible explanations were discussed