Sequential Cerebrospinal Fluid Sampling in Horses: Comparison of Sampling Times and Two Different Collection Sites.
Authors: Andrade Danilo Giorgi Abranches de, Cerri Fabrício Moreira, Barbosa Giovanna Valverde Magalhães, Basso Roberta Martins, Takahira Regina Kiomi, Pantoja José Carlos de Figueiredo, Oliveira-Filho José Paes de, Borges Alexandre Secorun
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Sequential CSF Sampling in Horses Cerebrospinal fluid analysis provides crucial diagnostic information in equine neurological cases, yet clinicians have limited guidance on how repeated sampling affects CSF composition or whether collection site influences results. Researchers collected CSF from eight horses via atlanto-occipital puncture and twelve via the C1-C2 space at five timepoints separated by seven-day intervals, then compared erythrocyte counts, nucleated cell counts, and total protein concentrations across sampling times and sites. The C1-C2 site yielded significantly higher protein concentrations at the first and fourth sampling occasions compared with atlanto-occipital samples, though all values remained below the 90 mg/dL reference limit; importantly, neither site showed clinically meaningful variation across the five sequential collections. For practitioners monitoring treatment response or drug concentrations in neurological patients, these findings suggest that repeated CSF sampling at either location with week-long intervals does not compromise interpretability of results, though awareness of slightly elevated protein at the C1-C2 site may help prevent misinterpretation of borderline elevations.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Both atlanto-occipital and C1-C2 puncture sites are suitable for repeated CSF collections to monitor treatment response or drug concentrations in neurologic cases
- •Sequential sampling at 7-day intervals does not introduce artifact or cell damage that would compromise diagnostic interpretation
- •Minor protein elevation differences between collection sites should not influence clinical decision-making provided values stay within reference ranges
Key Findings
- •Five consecutive CSF collections from atlanto-occipital or C1-C2 spaces with 7-day intervals did not alter erythrocyte counts, nucleated cell counts, or total protein concentrations
- •C1-C2 CSF showed significantly higher total protein concentration at T1 and T4 compared to atlanto-occipital CSF
- •All total protein values remained within reference interval (<90 mg/dL) across all sampling times and collection sites
- •Sequential CSF sampling does not interfere with analysis results in clinically healthy horses