Effect of Leucocytes and Bacteria on Glucose Content of the Cerebrospinal Fluid in Meningitis

Abstract

Levels of glucose in cerebrospinal fluids of dogs with aseptic meningitis were normal, while incubation in vitro of such fluids resulted in consumption of glucose. Evidently, glucose is transported into the cerebrospinal fluid in vivo more rapidly than it is utilized by the leucocytes under these conditions. Very large numbers of pneumococci growing rapidly in normal cerebrospinal fluid were needed in order to consume glucose at rates approximating those at which glucose is utilized in vitro by fluids of dogs with aseptic meningitis. Consumption of glucose by leucocytes and bacteria does not appear to account for lowered levels of glucose in bacterial meningitis.