Cerebrospinal Fluid Findings and Hypernatremia in COVID-19 Patients with Altered Mental Status

Authors

Hale Z. Toklu, HCA HealthcareFollow
Latha Ganti, HCA HealthcareFollow
Ettore Crimi, HCA HealthcareFollow
Cristobal Cintron, HCA HealthcareFollow
Joshua Hagan, HCA HealthcareFollow
Enrique Serrano, HCA HealthcareFollow

Division

North Florida

Hospital

GME Corporate

Document Type

Manuscript

Publication Date

12-9-2020

Keywords

cerebrospinal fluid, CSF, hypernatremia, sodium, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2

Disciplines

Emergency Medicine | Infectious Disease | Neurology | Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Background

The objective of the study was to assess the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in COVID-19 patients.

Aims

This was an observational retrospective cohort from electronic medical records of hospitalized patients (n = 2655) with confirmed COVID-19 between February 15, 2020, and April 15, 2020, in 182 hospitals from a large health system in the USA. The review of data yielded to a total of 79 patients in 20 hospitals who had CSF analysis.

Methods

Outcomes during hospitalization, including hospital length of stay, disease severity, ventilator time, and in-hospital death were recorded. Independent variables collected included patient demographics, diagnoses, laboratory values, and procedures.

Results

A total of 79 patients underwent CSF analysis. Of these, antigen testing was performed in 73 patients. Ten patients had CSF analysis for general markers such as total protein, cell count, glucose, clarity, and color. Seven of the 10 cases (70%) had normal total cell count and normal white blood cell count in CSF. Sixty-three percent (5/8) had elevated total protein. Two patients had normal levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and 1 patient had significantly elevated (fourfold) neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level in CSF.

Conclusion

Unlike bacterial infections, viral infections are less likely to cause remarkable changes in CSF glucose, cell count, or protein. Our observations showed no pleocytosis, but mild increase in protein in the CSF of the COVID-19 patients. The fourfold elevation of NSE may have diagnostic/prognostic value as a biomarker in CSF for COVID-19 patients who have altered mental status.

Publisher or Conference

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Recommended Citation

Toklu H, Ganti L, Crimi E, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid findings and hypernatremia in COVID-19 patients with altered mental status. Int J Emerg Med. 2020 Dec 20;13(63). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-020-00327-4