The Effect of Lumbar Puncture Procedure on Blood Glucose Level and Leukocyte Count in Infants

Abstract

Blood glucose level, urea concentration, and total white blood cell count were determined both before and 10-15 minutes after lumbar puncture (LP) procedure in 26 infants suspected of having meningitis. There was a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count (mean ± standard deviation) from 10,960 ± 3,500 cells/μl before to 13,300 ± 3,970 cells/μl following the LP procedure, due to relative rise in the neutrophils and lymphocytes. Blood glucose levels did not change significantly following this procedure (85.3 ± 13.4 mg/dl and 84.1 ± 12.6 mg/dl respectively). An LP procedure does not impair correct cerebrospinal fluid glucose/blood glucose determination but may cause elevation of peripheral WBC count.