Fatty acid in cerebrospinal fluid of congenital hydrocephalus.

In this presentation the analysis of fatty acid composition in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), by gas-chromatography, in 40 cases of congenital hydrocephalus before and after shunting operation is discussed. Each fatty acid content was determined by the method which uses arachidic acid as an indicator. The total fatty acid value was found to be significantly higher than normal in the preoperative period in hydrocephalus. The concentration of the total and of the short chain fatty acids (less than C16) in the CSF was higher in the high ventricular CSF pressure group of hydrocephalic patients (above 150 mm H2O) than in the low pressure group. The concentration level of all these fatty acids in the CSF was higher in the cases showing poor prognosis than in those with good prognosis 3 weeks after operation.