[Cerebrospinal fluid protein levels and blood-cerebrospinal fluid ratio of glucose and electrolytes in infants and children].

The cell and protein content of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the CSF/serum ratio of glucose, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate and chloride were investigated in 71 children without cerebromeningeal illness and aged 0-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-6 years and 7-14 years. The protein content of the CSF was 730 +/- 146 (530-950) mg/l for the age group 0-4 weeks, and 530 +/- 221 (270-950) mg/l for the age group 5-8 weeks. It was significantly higher than for all subsequent age groups. The CSF glucose accounted for 68-82% of the blood glucose. The serum/CSF ratio for sodium ranged from 101 to 104%, for potassium from 55 to 64%, for calcium from 48 to 70%, for phosphate from 24-29%, and for chloride from 106 to 114%. The decrease in serum and CSF potassium and phosphate concentrations from infancy to school age was significant. The greatest difference was evident in the serum/CSF calcium ratio which was significantly higher in the age groups up to 8 weeks than in the subsequent age groups. The electrolyte concentration of CSF with elevated protein and cell values did not differ significantly from CSF of children without cerebromeningeal disorders.