[Acid-base equilibrium of cerebrospinal fluid in inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system].

In 51 patients with meningoencephalitis the acid-base equilibrium of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was assessed. In the fluid the following gasometry parameters were determined: pH, pCO2, pO2 and HCO3-, and also the levels of lactic acid, ATP, pyruvic acid, and sodium and potassium ion concentrations. The control group included 13 patients in whom on the basis of CSF examination, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system was ruled out. The results were analysed in groups of patients with purulent and lymphocytic meningitis. The changes were taken into account of the determined parameters in the course of the disease as well as their relationship with clinical condition of the patients. The differences were found in the values of acid-base equilibrium parameters of the CSF between purulent and lymphocytic meningitis. The differences of the values of the determined parameters between the patients in the group of purulent meningoencephalitis depended on their clinical condition and the outcome of the pathological process. In patients with purulent meningoencephalitis metabolic, lactic acidosis of the CSF occurred which was statistically significantly higher than in the group of patients with lymphocytic meningitis. The lowest values of pH and HCO3- concentration and the highest concentrations of lactic and pyruvic acids and potassium ion levels were found in the group of patients with purulent meningoencephalitis. The highest degree of acid-base equilibrium disturbances in the CSF was observed in the subgroup of patients with purulent meningoencephalitis who died.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)