Categories: Neurology

Why does Albuminocytologic Dissociation occur?

Characteristic finding in Guillain–Barré syndrome (also associated with spinal block and with intracranial neoplasia)

  • Elevated protein level (albumin) in CSF
  • Low numbers of white blood cells in CSF

Why? Altered blood-nerve-CSF barrier and leaky spinal root capillaries (due to inflammation) => Albumin moves into the Subarachnoid space (CSF). WBCs remain the nerve roots; demyelinating. Hence the raised protein concentration without pleocytosis. [1]

References

  1. Hughes RA, Rees JH. Clinical and epidemiological features of Guillain-Barré syndrome. J Infect Dis. 1997;176:S92–8. [PubMed]
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Dr. C Humphreys

Internal Medicine

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