Results of lumbar puncture have me worried, Please help

Question

I am currently being seen at Mayo Clininc in Jacksonville Florida, this is my 3rd week here (this was expected to be a 5 day visiy), I came from MIssouri to find out what was wrong with me.  And Mayo has been great.

 I Had a lumbar puncture the day before Thanksgiving and the results are online but they mean nothing to me.
So I googled various results and found I should not have red blood cells in my spinal fluid by the 3rd vial and I did:

 Cerebral Spinal Fluid Analysis (11/24/2010 8:13 AM EST)
Name Result Normal Range 
CSF Tube# 3.0   
CSF WBC Count <1 /uL 0 - 5  
CSF RBC 70.0 /uL 


I am a little worried,  my next appointment is not until Monday, my doctors are off due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

If it will help here are some addition results:

Body Fluid Analysis (11/24/2010 8:13 AM EST)
Name Result Normal Range 
BF Color COLRLESS   
BF Appear CLEAR   
# WBC Counted/Diff 100.0   
BF Segs 9.0 %  
BF Lymph 81.0 %  
BF Monos 10.0 % 

I know the clear and colorless is a good thing.  But what about the RBC?  The lady who did the tap said there were no problems and there was no blood or any discoloration in  the bandhen I removed it 15 minutes after the procedure was completed.

Please help me understand the results I am starting to freaking out a bit.

Thanks so much

horselip · Accepted Answer

Hiya-
I've had a lot of lumbar punctures. In them, CSF is withdrawn from the subarachnoid space. 

I wish you luck in getting to the bottom of your diagnosis! Even though they are brutal, lumbar punctures can be very revealing about certain autoimmune and infectious conditions. So hopefully your results will help and give answers.

Normally no red blood cells are present in the CSF. I think you knew that though.

It looks like there are two main reasons that there could be RBCS in the CSF;

It could be that the puncture itself was what they call "traumatic" in other words they let blood in when they did the puncture.

The other reason could be some sort of sub-arachnoid hemorrhage which is bleeding in the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain. This area is called the subarachnoid space. 

In 85% the cause is rupture of a cerebral aneurysm—a weakness in the wall of one of the arteries in the brain that becomes enlarged. 

In 15–20% no aneurysm is detected and there is blood for a unknown reason in the subarachnoid spaces around the midbrain. 

The remainder are due disorders of the blood vessels in the spinal cord, and bleeding into various tumors, problems with blood clotting and pituitary apoplexy.

Hope this helps a little-
Horselip

horselip · Answer

You are so welcome
Waiting is hard. Been there,
I also have to travel for my specialty medical care. I've done the five days that turn into five weeks too..
Tomorrow you will know more, you are in good hands.
Hopefully you are on the road to a diagnosis and treatment that will help you to feel better. ...Sending positive thoughts your way along with a big ole virtual hug from Hawaii
Horsey

missyk_63801 · Answer

I guess I need to stop looking online and stressing myself out over the results.  I was just concerned the number was still at 70 after 3 tubes were taken out. 

Thanks again

Results of lumbar puncture have me worried, Please help

MRI Report need help understanding terminology

Headaches, head pressure and afterimage

Constant Pressure headache after thunderclap

Headache/Migraine at same interval

MRI Report need help understanding terminology

Headaches, head pressure and afterimage

Constant Pressure headache after thunderclap

Headache/Migraine at same interval

You are reading content posted in the Migraines and Headaches Community