A CSF leak is an escape of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Alternative NamesIntracranial hypotension
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe dura is the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and contains the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF can leak from any hole or tear in the dura.
Causes of a tear in the dura include:
Sometimes there is no cause.
SymptomsSymptoms may include:
Diagnosis is usually based on your history of injury, surgery, or lumbar puncture.
Tests may include:
TreatmentDepending on the cause of the leak, many cases go away on their own after a few days. Complete bed rest for several days is usually recommended.
Headache may be treated with pain relievers and fluids. If the headache lasts longer than a week after a lumbar puncture, a procedure may be done to block the hole that may be leaking fluid. This is called a blood patch, because a blood clot can be used to clog the leak. In most cases, this makes symptoms go away. Rarely, surgery is needed to repair a tear in the dura and stop the headache.
If symptoms of infection occur (fever, chills, change in mental status), antibiotic therapy is needed.
Expectations (prognosis)The outlook is usually good depending on the cause. Most cases heal by themselves with no lasting symptoms.
ComplicationsComplications may occur if the cause is surgery or trauma. Infections can cause serious complications, such as swelling of the brain.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if:
Measures such as wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorcycle can help prevent head injuries that can lead to CSF leak.
ReferencesHeegaard WG, Biros MH. Head. In: Marx J, ed.Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006:chap 38.A CSF leak is an escape of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Alternative NamesIntracranial hypotension
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsAny tear or hole in the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (dura) can allow the fluid that surrounds those organs to leak.
This fluid is called the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). When it leaks out, the pressure around the brain and spinal cord drops.
Causes of leakage through the dura include:
Sometimes, no cause can be found. This is called a spontaneous CSF leak.
SymptomsSymptoms may include:
Diagnosis is usually based on your history of injury, surgery, or lumbar puncture.
Tests may include:
Depending on the cause of the leak, many cases go away on their own after a few days. Complete bed rest for several days is usually recommended. Drinking increased fluids, especially drinks with caffeine, can help slow or stop the leak and may help with headache pain.
Headache may be treated with pain relievers and fluids. If the headache lasts longer than a week after a lumbar puncture, a procedure may be done to block the hole that may be leaking fluid. This is called a blood patch, because a blood clot can be used to seal the leak. In most cases, this makes symptoms go away. Rarely, surgery is needed to repair a tear in the dura and stop the headache.
Symptoms of infection (fever, chills, change in mental status) that occur after surgery on the brain or spinal cord or a lumbar puncture are a medical emergency and need to be treated with antibiotics.
Expectations (prognosis)The outlook is usually good depending on the cause. Most cases heal by themselves with no lasting symptoms.
ComplicationsComplications may occur if the cause is surgery or trauma. Infections after surgery or trauma can lead to meningitis and serious complications, such as swelling of the brain.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if:
Measures such as wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorcycle can help prevent head injuries that can lead to CSF leak.
ReferencesBiros MH, Heegaard WG. Head injury. In: Marx J, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 38.
DeAngelis LM. Tumors of the central nervous system and intracranial hypertension and hypotension. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 199.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/26/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The functions of the spinal fluid are to cushion or protect the brain from any trauma, provide the necessary nutrients and chemicals to nervous system tissue, and the removal of waste product from the brain. The cerebrospinal fluid is a colorless fluid found in the brain and spinal cord.
Impulsive behavior, and especially impulsive violence predisposition has been correlated to a low brain serotonin turnover rate, indicated by a low concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Possible polymorphisms in the gene for tryptophan hydroxylase, which is responsible for the production of hydroxytryptophan, the precursor of serotonin. Within violent subjects, a significant relationship was observed between CSF 5-HIAA concentration and specific polymorphism genotypes. The phenotypes associated with these genotypes are extreme and it is hypothesized that these polymorphisms may only be significantly correlated to impulsive behavior
Can you die from an untreated cfs leakage
It is caused by a decreased CSF pressure related to a small leak of CSF through the puncture site.
Since blood-csf barrier is not well developed in neonates protein leak from blood to csf occurs...so csf protein is high in neonates and infants...for similar reason csf protein is elevated in all meningitis due to vascular permeability...
CsF is the chemical formula of caesium fluoride.
The outer layers of protective tissue that holds the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in place are the meninges. If they are damaged, CFS can leak out.
Yes. Glucose is found there in CSF fluid. CSF glucose level is commonly done by your doctor.
there ara no microbial normal flora in the csf
The spine and brain contain Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
Colnago-CSF Bardiani was created in 1982.
CsF is the chemical formula of caesium fluoride.
CSF volume is 150mls and the daily production of CSF is 550mls/day. Effectively meaning that CSF changes 3-4 times a day
The formula name for the element CsF is Caesium fluoride.