[Toxicity of the cerebrospinal fluid in comas of various etiologies].

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was examined by chromatography-mass spectrometry in 10 normal subjects and 27 patients with comas of different etiology. The findings included detection of a number of highly toxic intermediate metabolites of intra- and extracerebral origin. Their concentration was dependent on the nature of the condition. Maximal toxicity of the CSF was observed in cases of severe craniocerebral trauma and hemorrhagic stroke which were associated with the penetration of blood into the CSF.