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CSF glucose levels in febrile infants

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Abstract

Simultaneous blood and CSF glucose levels were investigated in 143 febrile children without cerebromeningeal illness, who were evaluated due to fever in the first 2 months of life or febrile convulsions. There was a significant decrease (P<0.001) in the mean CSF-blood glucose ratio from 0.67±0.13 in the first 2 weeks of life to 0.56±0.11, 0.57±0.8 and 0.58±0.11 at the ages 2–4, 5–6 and 6–8 weeks, respectively. The mean CSF and blood glucose levels did not change significantly in this period. After the 2nd month of life there was a significant rise P<0.01 in the mean CSF-blood glucose ratio to 0.72±0.11, the customary normal value in children. This was associated with a significant rise in CSF glucose levels as compared to the first 8 weeks as a whole. Our study suggests age-related changes in CSF blood-glucose ratios during the first weeks of life which are important when evaluating infants for the possibility of meningitis.

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Lerman-Sagie, T., Shohat, M. & Nitzan, M. CSF glucose levels in febrile infants. Eur J Pediatr 147, 416–417 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496423

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496423

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