CSF lactate
Aravindhan Baheerathan, Robert D. S. Pitceathly, Carmel Curtis, Nicholas Davies
Abstract
Lactate is produced from anaerobic glycolysis, which occurs in most tissues in the human body. Blood lactate is tested in most physiologically unwell patients in the Emergency Department and helps to guide treatment and prognosis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate, however, is not often measured. Various central nervous system (CNS) conditions lead to a rise in CSF lactate, including acute neurological infection, stroke, seizures and mitochondrial pathologies. This article discusses the utility and limitations of CSF lactate, highlighting specific clinical situations where it can help in the diagnosis of CNS infections and unexplained encephalopathy.
Topics & Concepts
Cerebrospinal fluidMedicineBlood lactateEncephalopathyAnaerobic exerciseAnaerobic glycolysisGlycolysisIntensive care medicineInternal medicinePhysiologyMetabolismBlood pressureHeart rateInfectious Encephalopathies and EncephalitisEpilepsy research and treatmentCerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus