Cerebrospinal fluid acid-base and lactate changes after seizures in unanesthetized man. I. Idiopathic seizures.

The natural course of acid-base changes in arterial blood and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid of patients admitted after major motor seizures was correlated with simultaneously determined lactate levels. In 10 patients with idopathic seizures studied less than 3 hours after the seizure, arterial lactate and cerebrospinal fluid lactate were elevated in association with a mild arterial metabolic acidosis. The elevated cerebrospinal fluid lactate persisted despite a return to normal of the arterial lactate in seven patients studied between 3 and 6 hours after the seizure. All values were normal in five patients studied more than 4 days after a major seizure.