Cerebrospinal fluid glutamine levels and EEG findings in patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

The cerebrospinal fluid glutamine level was determined and an electro-encephalogram was made at roughly the same time in 41 patients on 55 occasions. A modified electro-encephalographic grading for practical use was introduced, because the classical electroencephalographic grading described by PARSONS-SMITH et al. (1957) does not apply to patients in deep coma. A significant correlation was found between the natural logarithms of cerebrospinal fluid glutamine levels and the electro-encephalic grade. In combination, these parameters provide valuable diagnostic and prognostic information in hepatic encephalopathy, and each can serve separately for follow-up purposes.