Correlation between findings of brain tomography and the level of cerebrospinal fluid's nerve growth factor in hydrocephalic infants

ABSTRACTCorrelation Between Findings of Brain Tomography and the Level ofCerebrospinal Fluid?s Nerve Growth Factor in Hydrocephalic InfantsLike in the world, an important neurosurgery problem hydrocephaluspathophysiology and it?s cure can?t certainly solved in Turkey where the social andeconomic conditions aren?t good. The most common diagnostic method used inhydrocephalus is computerized tomography (CT). Based upon the results of the CT,measures like Evan?s index, 3rd ventricule index, cella media index and ventricularscore are done. The most important cure protocol is ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Butsometimes there is suspicion about shunt indication and it?s timing.NGF which is member of neurotropine family, is important in growth,continuing of liveliness, becoming different and regeneration of nerve cells. In cerebralpathologies like hypoxia, ischemia, injury, atrophy that because of old age,hydrocephalus, neuroimmunological illnesses and increased intracerebral pressure;nerve growth factor is seen in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in high dosages.In our study, there were 27 patients with congenital hydrocephalus and who arebetween 0 and 6 months old. In the preoperative and postoperative 3rd-30th dayscerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was taken from patients and CT was taken. With the Elisatechnique NGF was examined in the CSF. CT indexes were calculated. According to theSpearman correlation analyses, any correlation is found between the NGF level in CSFand CT indexes. Increasing of the NGF level in the 3rd day of the postoperative periodcompared to the preoperative period was meaningful (p<0,05). Although, decreasing ofNGF level in the 30th day compared to the 3rd day was statistically meaningful(p<0,05), it?s decreasing according to the preoperative period wasn?t thoughtmeaningful (p>0,05). In the CT eveluation, decreasing at Evan?s index, 3rd ventriculeindex and ventricular score in the 3rd and 30th days of the postoperative period wasmeaningful (p<0,05). Although, cella media indexes being at the same level in thepostop 3rd day and in preoperative period wasn?t found meaningful, it?s decreasing inpostoperative 30th day was found meaningful.As a consequence, in the preoperative and postoperative evaluations of thepatients with hydrocephalus who were done ventriculoperitoneal shunt, it is found thatthere were no correlation between NGF level of CSF and CT indexes but it is fixed thatthese two parameters have some meaningful connection with each other. They can behelpful in the diagnosis, cure and following of the hydrocephalus.Key words: Hydrocephalus, nerve growth factor, CT indexes.