Chemical and cytological analysis of cerebral spinal fluid after intrathecal injection of hypodense fluorescein.

Introduction: Intrathecal fluorescein has been effective for topographic diagnosis of rhinoliquorrhea. Nonetheless, there are no reports on the study of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) after use of intrathecal fluorescein.

Objective: A prospective study attempting to evaluate CSF through chemical and cytological analysis, after injection of fluorescein.

Methods: Prospective analysis of 24 samples of CSF after intrathecal injection of fluorescein for topographic diagnosis of CSF fistulae, collected at the time of puncture and after 24 and 48h, divided by cellularity: Group 1, up to five cells, and Group 2, with more than five cells.

Results: The yellow-greenish color of CSF remained after 48h in 36%, evidencing permanence of fluorescein. No changes in protein and glucose levels were observed between 0-24h and 0-48h. In group 2, an increase in cell count was observed between 24h and 48h (p=0.019). In both groups, there was an increase of neutrophils between 0 and 48h (p=0.048) and a decrease between 24 and 48h (p=0.05).

Conclusion: Intrathecal fluorescein provoked discreet meningeal reactions, such as an increase of cells between 24 and 48h and an increase of neutrophils at 24h, with a subsequent decrease at 48h with no correlation with symptomatology.