What causes low CSF glucose levels?

  • Can be due to caused due to
    • Utilisation by pathogenic organisms
    • Utilisation by host cells
    • Impaired CSF glucose transport through the blood-brain barrier
  • Conditions where low CSF glucose arises include:
Infective conditions
  • Bacterial infections: low (<40%)
  • Tuberculous infections: very low (<30%)
  • Fungal infections: low-normal
* Normal glucose levels do not rule out infection (up to 50 percent of patients who have bacterial meningitis will have normal CSF glucose)
Perioperative
  • Chemical and inflammatory meningitis
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Hypoglycemia