THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN MYXEDEMA

Abstract

Observations were made on the cerebrospinal fluid¹ of patients with myxedema before and after the administration of desiccated thyroid. These observations are presented under three headings: (1) the protein content, (2) the distribution of chloride ions between the plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid and (3) the rate of flow. THE PROTEIN CONTENT The measurements,² which are summarized in table 1, show two facts: 1. In thirteen of seventeen cases, the protein concentration was high during the period of myxedema.³ Qualitative tests (the ammonium sulphate ring test of Ross and Jones, and precipitation with an equal quantity of 95 per cent alcohol) indicated that this was true for both albumin and globulin fractions. 2. In all but two cases a well marked drop in the concentration occurred as the basal metabolism approached normal, following the administration of desiccated thyroid. Data on a typical case are plotted in chart 1. In the