What does mean when high protein levels are found in the results of a spinal tap?
Normally, spinal fluid will be clear and colorless and contain no blood and no organisms. Protein levels are usually 15 to 45 mg/dl of CSF, although in the elderly and children the level may be 70 mg/dl. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are usually less than 2.0 to 7.2 U/ml. Abnormal results may be caused by many different conditions: • Elevated protein, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and muddy or dense spinal fluid with malignant cells may indicate a brain tumor or cancer in the brain, spinal cord, or cancer that has spread to these areas. • CSF that looks muddy and may contain increased protein levels and increased LDH levels may indicate degenerative brain disease, autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, neurosyphilis, or other diseases. In the case of neurosyphilis, the CSF should test positive for antibodies to syphilis. • CSF that has high protein levels, muddy color, and red blood cells may indicate subarachnoid bleeding, which is bleeding in the membranes surrounding the brain,
