A study of subdural effusions in an infant

Abstract

The clinical course and operative findings in a 5-month-old child with presumed posttraumatic subdural effusions are described. I131 -labeled human serum albumin was given intravenously in tracer amounts, and labeled albumin specific activity was determined in samples of blood and subdural and subarachnoid fluids obtained over a 22-day period. Measurements of total protein concentration and partitioning of protein by electrophoresis were carried out on many of these samples. The data obtained permit the following conclusions (1) Plasma, subdural, and subarachnoid spaces were compartmentalized with respect to their content of albumin, globulin, total protein, and absolute radioactivity. (2) Radioactive albumin in subdural and subarachnoid spaces were derived from plasma. Turnover time for albumin in left and right subdural space and lumbar subarachnoid space was 16, 19, and 28 hours, respectively. An hypothesis to account for the persistence and ultimate disappearance of subdural effusions in this infant is presented.