Measurement of Lactic Acid in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Infections of the Central Nervous System

Abstract

The concentration of lactic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was determined by gas-liquid chromatography in 205 samples of CSF from 97 patients with or without infections of the central nervous system. Patients without infection or those with nonbacterial (presumably viral) meningitis consistently had low concentrations of lactic acid in CSF (i.e., ≥35 mg/100 ml), whereas patients with bacterial or tuberculous meningitis consistently had concentrations of lactic acid in CSF of >35 mg/100 ml. There was no overlap in concentrations of lactic acid between these two groups. Further, lactic acid concentrations in CSF from patients partially treated for meningitis were generally >35 mg/100 ml through the third day of therapy and, thereafter, progressively declined to <20 mg/100 ml by the seventh to 10th day of therapy. Relapse of bacterial infection was consistently documented by a recurrence of an increased concentration of lactic acid in CSF. Preliminary experience with determination of the concentration of lactic acid in CSF suggests that it may be useful in distinguishing bacterial (with or without positive cultures) and tuberculous meningitis from meningitis due to nonbacterial causes.