Acute relationships between cerebrospinal fluid hydrostatic pressure and arterial pressure were quantified in conscious rats. The rats were catheterized with a left femoral artery catheter, and a double set of catheters was implanted into the third cerebral ventricle. In three groups of rats, artificial cerebrospinal fluid with various sodium concentrations (142, 152, and 162 mM) was infused in...

We tested the hypothesis that the concentration of atrial natriuretic factor in the cerebrospinal fluid is an indicator of brain injury in patients with intracranial disease. Atrial natriuretic factor concentration was measured in 72 samples of cerebrospinal fluid from 28 patients with intraventricular drains and in nine samples from outpatient controls undergoing diagnostic lumbar puncture. Le...

Three hyponatraemic infants had post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus which was treated by repeated drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. Each required oral sodium supplements. The concentration of sodium in the cerebrospinal fluid was such that as much as 3 mmol of sodium could have been removed with each ventricular tap. Serum sodium concentrations should be monitored closely in any infant requiring reg...