Elsevier

Injury

Volume 18, Issue 5, September 1987, Pages 327-328
Injury

CSF rhinorrhoea: significance of the glucose oxidase strip test

https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-1383(87)90053-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Many authoritative medical textbooks recommend the use of glucose oxidase reagent strips to distinguish cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea from clear nasal discharge following head injury. A study of 50 subjects with clear nasal and lacrimal secretions, demonstrated a large proportion of positive results for glucose (44 per cent). Thirteen secretions (26 per cent) contained glucose in a concentration within the normal range for CSF. The recommended use of glucose oxidase test strips for differentiating CSF leakage from other clear nasal secretions is therefore without foundation.

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    (1965)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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    Although the concentrations of glucose and protein differ in CSF and plasma, their chemical identification has poor sensitivity and specificity and is not a reliable diagnostic tool, especially when the fluid is contaminated with blood, tears, and saliva. Their use is generally obsolete, especially for subclinical liquorrhea [4–6]. For many years, β2-transferrin has been used to detect CSF.

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