Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord. CSF glucose levels are used to diagnose infections, inflammation, and tumors in the central nervous system. Abnormal levels can indicate medical conditions such as meningitis or uncontrolled diabetes. A lumbar puncture is used to obtain a CSF sample for testing.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid produced by the blood that circulates around the brain and spinal cord, the organs that make up the central nervous system. Glucose is the common sugar used in the body. Cerebrospinal fluid glucose, or glycorrhachia, is the level of glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid. Normal levels of glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid are 50-80 milligrams of glucose per 100 milliliters of blood.
Tests for glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid are used to diagnose certain medical conditions. These include infections, inflammation of the central nervous system and tumors. Uncontrolled diabetes involves high blood glucose levels, so it can also cause high cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels.
CSF is formed from blood in a structure called the choroid plexus in the brain. The liquid part of the blood and much of the material, especially electrolytes and nutrients, becomes CSF. Cerebrospinal fluid circulates through the central nervous system. The brain has no blood vessels directly in it, so glucose from the cerebrospinal fluid is used to nourish the brain. CSF also helps support and cushion the central nervous system due to its buoyancy.
Glucose is the sugar that circulates in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. It is the main nutrient used in the body in producing energy. The brain mostly runs on a large amount of glucose, so glucose is an important component of cerebrospinal fluid. Normal cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels are typically about two-thirds of normal blood glucose levels.
Testing of CSF levels is often done to diagnose the medical cause of delirium, headaches, or other neurological problems. The usual way to obtain a CSF sample is a procedure called a lumbar puncture. In a lumbar puncture, a needle is inserted between the lower spines and cerebrospinal fluid is withdrawn for testing.
Abnormal levels of glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid can indicate the presence of central nervous system tumors, infections, or other types of inflammation in the central nervous system. Low levels of glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid, called hypoglycorrhachia, are seen with a variety of problems in the central nervous system. Some tumors in the brain cause low levels of glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid as the tumor cells use up the glucose for growth. Infections such as meningitis or tuberculosis can also cause low cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels. Glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid can be used to distinguish between viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis.
Glucose in the cerebrospinal fluid comes from the blood, so abnormal blood glucose levels can also affect cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels. Low cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels can be caused by low blood sugar. Similarly, high blood sugar levels in the body, most commonly caused by uncontrolled diabetes, can cause high cerebrospinal fluid glucose levels.
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