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. 1978 Jul;8(1):89–92. doi: 10.1128/jcm.8.1.89-92.1978

Cerebrospinal fluid lactic acid in diagnosis of meningitis.

R A Komorowski, S G Farmer, G A Hanson, L L Hause
PMCID: PMC275120  PMID: 670390

Abstract

Quantitative lactate determinations were performed on cerebrospinal fluids to assess their value in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial and mycotic meningitis and to evaluate their value in assessing the prognosis in these patients. Cerebrospinal fluid lactate concentrations were elevated in all patients with untreated bacterial or fungal meningitis. Lactate concentrations proved very valuable in following patients with mycotic meningitis and in differentiating aseptic from bacterial meningitis. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid lactate is not specific for meningitis. Lactate is also elevated in situations where there is central nervous system ischemia and necrosis and in patients with brain tumors. Lactate concentration is normal in chronic degenerative brain diseases. Thus, the clinical situation must be taken into account when interpreting the lactate concentrations.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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