Role of neonatal cerebrospinal fluid cytology in correlation to C-reactive protein, blood culture, risk factors and clinical outcomes in neonatal intensive care

INTRODUCTION: The number of neonatal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples sent from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for cytologic examination is rising, warranting accurate analysis and interpretation of the same. This study was taken up to assess the usefulness of CSF cell count and cytology in NICU settings, as it can be used even in a resource-limited setting. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1) To study the prevalence of cell count and cytologic changes in CSF from NICU and assess their usefulness in correlation to C-reactive protein, CSF neutrophil percentage, blood, CSF culture, and other biochemical parameters. 2) To correlate cell counts and cytology with age, period of gestation, presence, and absence of sepsis, seizures, intracranial hemorrhage, and their clinical follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done on neonatal CSF samples submitted for cytology over one year (January–December 2016) in the Department of Pathology. CSF cell counts were retrieved, and cytosmears were reviewed for cellularity, cell type, proportion, and background and correlated with the biochemical, microbiological, and clinicoradiological findings. RESULTS: A total of 213 samples were included with 140 males and 73 females with an age range of 0–28 (mean: 7.3) days. The mean CSF cell count was 5.48/cu.mm (0–90 cells/cu.mm). The most frequent cytologic finding was occasional lymphocytes or acellular CSF (63.9%). The CSF leucocyte count and protein levels showed a significant correlation with s C-reactive protein. The CSF cytology showed a significant correlation between the age of the neonate and blood neutrophil percentage (P = 0.0158). History of intracranial hemorrhage showed a significantly higher frequency of the presence of red blood cells (P = 0.0147). CONCLUSION: Accurate cell counts, cytology of neonatal CSF, and biochemical and microbiological workup can help diagnose and manage neonates in intensive care.