TABLE 11-6. CAUSES OF ELEVATED CSF PROTEIN*

  1. From serum accompanying hemorrhage or a traumatic tap: add approximately 1 mg% protein for every 700 RBCs.
  2. Intracerebral hemorrhage (the amount of protein is usually elevated disproportionately to the amount of blood).
  3. Many inflammatory conditions.
  4. Many neoplasms.
  5. Occasionally with degenerative diseases (but usually the level of protein is normal or only minimally elevated).
  6. Sometimes with cerebral infarction (usually not greater than 100 mg%).
  7. Many peripheral neuropathies.
  8. Diabetes mellitus.
  9. Guillain-Barre syndrome.
  10. Hypothyroidism.
  11. Stagnant CSF, as below an obstructing spinal tumor or after a ventricular shunting procedure.
  12. Laboratory error.

*Levels >45mg%

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