INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Abstract

DEFINITION The term "dementia paralytica formula" will here be reserved for the humoral data alone as encountered in cases of typical, not effectively treated dementia paralytica, the acute forms being disregarded, while "dementia paralytica syndrome" is used for the ensemble of clinical and humoral data. With this restriction, the dementia paralytica formula is fairly uniform. It denotes a clear and colorless aspect of the cerebrospinal fluid and the following results of the obligatory tests. 1. In the quantitative analysis of the cell picture higher numbers of mononuclear cells are encountered with dementia paralytica than with other chronic forms of neurosyphilis, say 30 to 100 cells per cubic millimeter. Qualitatively, the peculiar polymorphism of the cells, which invariably include plasma cells, is so striking that previously it was believed to be specific. 2. The total protein content also is distinctly higher with dementia paralytica than with other chronic forms of neurosyphilis.