Tests to ask for alongside lumbar puncture?

[Guest guest]

Henry is having an MRI under IV sedation just before Christmas. At the same time

they will be doing a lumbar puncture to test his pyridoxine levels (I think

that's what it is - we have had to withdraw his B6 ahead of the test). As he is

going through all this unpleasant experience I am wondering if I should try and

get any other testing done at the same time.

Could I ask them to keep a sample of CSF for later testing - or is this

pointless because the sample would degrade in any case? Am I right that blood

samples wouldn't be much use because he drugs used to sedate him would make

results generally unreliable?

It is not possible in general to get a blood samplebecaseu he would fight like

crazy.

I don't want to be thinking some time later " Oh if only we'd done that test

while he was sedated " , though.

Any suggestions would be welcome, please.

Thanks,

Margaret

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret,

This may not be of much help and I appreciate Norman's presentation is

quite different to Henry's but I thought I'd post. Norman's lumbar test

included:-

CSF quantitative amino acids and plasma levels, CSF neurotransmitters

looking at monamine metabolites (in relation to his sleep disturbance

and RLS). It also transpired later that they checked his prolactin

levels, which were high but we were told they didn't know why??!!.

I'm not sure if other hormones were checked here but may be looking at

some of the hormones (thyroid etc) may be useful. Unfortunately, the

consultant who did Norman's LP left the UK shortly after the procedure

was done and somehow following through with the next consultant has not

been so clear.

emily

>

> Henry is having an MRI under IV sedation just before Christmas. At the

same time they will be doing a lumbar puncture to test his pyridoxine

levels (I think that's what it is - we have had to withdraw his B6 ahead

of the test). As he is going through all this unpleasant experience I am

wondering if I should try and get any other testing done at the same

time.

> Could I ask them to keep a sample of CSF for later testing - or is

this pointless because the sample would degrade in any case? Am I right

that blood samples wouldn't be much use because he drugs used to sedate

him would make results generally unreliable?

> It is not possible in general to get a blood samplebecaseu he would

fight like crazy.

> I don't want to be thinking some time later " Oh if only we'd done that

test while he was sedated " , though.

> Any suggestions would be welcome, please.

> Thanks,

> Margaret

>