Surgical treatment of mixed cervical spondylosis with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leakage: A case report

BACKGROUND Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)leaks associated with cervical spondylosis are rare.To our knowledge,only a few cases have been reported in which treatment is challenging and varies from case to case.Here,we review the literature and describe the surgical treatment of a 70-year-old woman who presented with a CSF leak due to a cervical spine spur.CASE SUMMARY A 70-year-old female patient who was treated for a cerebral infarction,presented with complains of weakness in the right lower extremity and a feeling of stepping on cotton.The patient underwent regular neck massage and presented with neck and right shoulder pain radiating to the right upper extremity one-month ago.Magnetic resonance imaging showed a strip of leaking cerebrospinal fluid posterior to the C1-4 vertebrae,and computed tomography showed a“sickleshaped”disc prolapse with calcification in C4/5.We chose to perform an anterior cervical discectomy.When the prolapsed C4/5 disc was scraped,clear fluid leakage was observed,and exploration revealed a 1 mm diameter rupture in the anterior aspect of the dura mater,which was compressed continuously with cotton patties,with no significant cerebrospinal fluid leakage after 1 h.CONCLUSION Three months after surgery,the patient was asymptomatic and follow-up imaging demonstrated complete resolution.

Hydrocephalic cerebrospinal fluid flowing rotationally with pulsatile boundaries:A mathematical simulation of the thermodynamical approach

To study the kinematics of flow rate and ventricular dilatation,an analytical perturbation approach of hydrocephalus has been devised.This research provides a comprehensive investigation of the characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)flow and pressure in a hydrocephalic patient.The influence of hydrocephalic CSF,flowing rotationally with realistic dynamical characteristics on pulsatile boundaries of subarachnoid space,was demonstrated using a nonlinear controlling system of CSF.An analytical perturbation method of hydrocephalus has been developed to investigate the biomechanics of fluid flow rate and the ventricular enlargement.In this paper presents a detailed analysis of CSF flow and pressure dynamics in a hydrocephalic patient.It was elaborated with a nonlinear governing model of CSF to show the influence of hydrocephalic CSF,flowing rotationally with realistic dynamical behaviors on pulsatile boundaries of subarachnoid space.In accordance with the suggested model,the elasticity factor changes depending on how much a porous layer,in this case the brain parenchyma,is stretched.It was improved to include the relaxation of internal mechanical stresses for various perturbation orders,modelling the potential plasticity of brain tissue.The initial geometry that was utilised to create the framework of CSF with pathological disease hydrocephalus and indeed the output of simulations using this model were compared to the actual progression of ventricular dimensions and shapes in patients.According to this observation,the non-linear and elastic mechanical phenomena incorporated into the current model are probably true.Further modelling of ventricular dilation at a normal pressure may benefit from the existence of a valid model whose parameters approximate genuine mechanical characteristics of the cerebral cortex.

CfDNA-based liquid biopsy of cerebrospinal fluid in medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma(MB)is the most common childhood embryonal malignant tumour in the central nervous system.The diagnosis,prognosis and therapeutic targets of MB depend on the molecular characteristics of the tumor,and it is a great challenge to obtain the tissue samples from the patients with brain tumor.Genomic changes found in cell-free DNA(cfDNA)of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)can predict genomic changes present in tumor tissue,fluid biopsy of CSF can detect the genomic profile of tumor-associated cfDNA and evaluate cfDNA as a marker of measurable residual disease(MRD)in a relatively noninvasive manner,which provides the evidence of"individualized precision therapy"for MB patients.In this paper,we reviewed the recent studies in medulloblastoma based on cfDNA Liquid Biopsy of CSF.

Role of cerebrospinal fluid lactate in diagnosing meningitis in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND Meningitis is a life-threatening clinical condition associated with high mortality and morbidity.Early diagnosis and specific treatment may improve outcomes.Lack of specific clinical signs or tests make the diagnosis challenging.AIM To assess the efficacy of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)lactate in diagnosing meningitis in critically ill patients.METHODS A prospective,observational cohort study was carried out in a neuro-medical intensive care unit(ICU)over a 22 mo period.Adult patients,with suspected meningitis admitted in ICU,were serially recruited.Patients who refused consent,those with peripheral sensorineural deficit,or with any contraindication to lumber puncture were excluded.CSF cytology,bio-chemistry,lactates,culture and polymerase chain reaction based meningo-encephalitis panel were evaluated.Patients were divided in two groups based on clinical diagnosis of meningitis.The efficacy of CSF lactate in diagnosing meningitis was evaluated and compared with other tests.RESULTS Seventy-one patients were included and 23 were diagnosed with meningitis.The mean values of CSF total leucocyte count(TLC),proteins and lactates were significantly higher in meningitis group.There was a significant correlation of CSF lactate levels with CSF cultures and meningo-encephalitis panel.CSF lactate(>2.72 mmol/L)showed good accuracy in diagnosing meningitis with an area under the curve of 0.81(95% confidence interval:0.69-0.93),sensitivity of 82.6%,and specificity 72.9%.These values were comparable to those of CSF TLC and protein.Twelve patients with bacterial meningitis had significantly higher CSF lactate(8.9±4.7 mmol/L)than those with non-bacterial meningitis(4.2±3.8 mmol/L),P=0.006.CONCLUSION CSF lactate may be used to aid in our diagnosis of meningitis in ICU patients.CSF lactate(>2.72 mmol/L)showed good accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity in diagnosing meningitis and may also help to differentiate between bacterial and non-bacterial meningitis.

Abdominal Cerebrospinal Fluid Pseudocyst—A Rare Complication of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

An abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst is a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Several theories have been suggested to explain its occurrence. The main symptoms are painful abdominal distension and vomiting, abdominal distension on examination, as abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography confirm its diagnosis. The treatment involves drainage associated with drain relocation and resection of the pseudocyst’s wall. We report two patients diagnosed with this condition who underwent surgical treatment. The first patient had an unremarkable 12-month follow-up, while the second died on the seventh postoperative day due to intravascular disseminated coagulation. In these patients, the cause has not been identified;however, an infection cannot be ruled out.

Treatment of spinal cord injury by transplantation of cells via cerebrospinal fluid

It is very important to probe into the axonal regeneration and functional recovery of central nervous system （CNS） after implantation of cells into cerebrospinal fluid （CSF） for spinal cord injury （SCI）. Transplantation of cells via CSF poses great potentials for SCI in clinic. Studies on administration of cells via CSF indicate that the method is safe and convenient. The method is more suitable to treating multiple lesions of the CNS since it does not produce open lesions. However, there are disputes over its promotion effects on axonal regeneration and functional recovery of spinal cord after injury; and some questions, such as the mechanisms of functional recovery of spinal cord, the proper time window of cell transplantation, and cell types of transplantation, still need to be handled. This review summarized the method of cell transplantation via CSF for treatment of SCI.

Changes in HIF-1α, VEGF, NGF and BDNF Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid and TheirRelationship with Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Cerebral Infarction

Summary： This study was carried out to investigate the role of intrinsic neuroprotective mechanisms in the occurrence and development of vascular cognitive impairment （VCI） with the goal of providing a target for the treatment and prevention of VCI. Inpatients with proven cerebral infarction on cranial computed tomography （CT） were recruited as the ischemic cerebrovascular diseases （ICVD） group, and the patients with mixed stroke were excluded. In ICVD group, 12 patients were diagnosed as having VCI and served as VCI group. Inpatients undergoing surgical operation in our hospital were enrolled as control group. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to detect the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha （HIF-1α）, vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF）, nerve growth factor （NGF） and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with ICVD. Associations between the levels of these factors and the Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE） score were evaluated. In ICVD and VCI groups, the levels of HIF-1α and NGF in the cerebrospinal fluid were markedly lower than those in control group （P=-0.037 and P=0.000; P=0.023 and P=-0.005）. In ICVD and VCI groups, the MMSE score was negatively related to VEGF level in the cerebrospinal fluid （r=-0.327, P=0.021; r=-0.585, P=0.046）. In VCI group, HIF-1α level was correlated with NGF level （r=0.589, P=0.044）. HIF-1α and NGF are involved in ischemic and hy- poxic cerebral injury. The HIF signaling pathway plays an important role in intrinsic neuroprotection. Upregulation and maintenance of HIF-1α and NGF expression may attenuate VCI. Changes in VEGF levels are related to the occurrence and development of cognitive impairment.

MANAGEMENT OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID LEAKAGE FOLLOWING CERVICAL SPINE SURGERY

Objective To investigate the management and outcome of cerebrospinal fluid leakage(CSFL)after cervical surgery.Methods Medical records of 642 patients who underwent cervical surgery between December 1999 and December 2005 at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed.Five patients complicated by CSFL after surgery were enrolled,of which 4 cases were complicated after ossified posterior longitudinal ligament or posterior vertebral osteophyte resection directly injuring the dura,and 1 case after posterior cervical double-door laminoplasty without observed dural injury during surgery.Of the 5 CSFL cases,4 cases occurred at 1-3 days after operation and 1 case at 9 days after operation.All 5 postoperative CSFL cases were treated through wound drainage removal,wound sutures,prophylactic antibiotics,and continuous subarachnoid drainage in the elevated head position.Results All 5 CSFL cases experienced leakage cessation within 1-3 days and wound healing within 4-8 days,and subarachnoid drainage lasted 11-16 days with an average volume of 320 mL(range,150-410 mL).Four cases experienced headache,nausea and vomiting,1 case suffered from somnolence and hyponatremia,and symptoms subsided after symptomatic treatment and intravenous fluid administration.All patients were followed up for an average of 32 months(range,22-50 months).No occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid cyst or wound infection was observed.CSFL produced no significant negative effects upon neuromuscular function recovery.Conclusion Continuous subarachnoid cavity drainage in combination with elevated head position is a simple and safe non-surgical method in treatment of CSFL following cervical surgery.

Serial lumbar puncture reduces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection during removal of hemorrhagic CSF in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage after endovascular coiling

The present study aimed to compare the complications and clinical outcomes of serial lumbar puncture（LP） and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid（CSF） drainage（LD） of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and provide more evidence to guide clinical management.In this retrospective study,41 and 39 aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients were enrolled in the LP and LD group,respectively.Clinical outcomes,including CSF infection,intracerebral hemorrhage,vasospasm,hydrocephalus,death,length of stay,duration of drainage and the Glasgow Outcome Scale score were compared between the two groups.By comparing with the LP group,the LD group showed a significantly higher rate of CSF infection（P= 0.029） and shorter duration of drainage（P〈 0.001）.Both groups displayed similar rates of vasospasm,hydrocephalus,intracerebral hemorrhage,the Glasgow Outcome Scale score one month after endovascular coiling and length of stay（P〉 0.05,respectively）.In conclusion,both LD and serial LP are effective methods in the treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage; besides,serial LP can reduce the incidence of CSF infection in draining hemorrhagic CSF in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage after endovascular coiling.

Diagnostic Value of Cerebrospinal Fluid T-SPOT.TB for Tuberculousis Meningitis in China

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the cerebrospinal fluid（CSF） T‐SPOT.TB test for the diagnosis of TB meningitis（TBM）. A retrospective analysis of 96 patients with manifested meningitis was conducted; T‐SPOT.TB test was performed for diagnosing TBM to determine the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value（PPV）, and negative predictive value（NPV）. A receiver operating characteristic（ROC） curve was also drawn to assess the diagnostic accuracy. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of CSF T‐SPOT.TB test were 97.8%, 78.0%, 80.3%, and 97.5%, respectively, for 52 patients（54.2%） of the 96 enrolled patients. The area under the curve（AUC） was 0.910, and the sensitivities of CSF T‐SPOT.TB for patients with stages I, II, and III of TBM were 96.7%, 97.2%, and 98.9%, respectively. CSF T‐SPOT.TB test is a rapid and accurate diagnostic method with higher sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing TBM.

Cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: lessons from cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers

Cognitive impairment is a common clinical manifestation of multiple sclerosis,but its pathophysiology is not completely understood.White and grey matter injury together with synaptic dysfunction do play a role.The measurement of biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid and the study of their association with cognitive impairment may provide interesting in vivo evidence of the biological mechanisms underlying multiple sclerosis-related cognitive impairment.So far,only a few studies on this topic have been published,giving interesting results that deserve further investigation.Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of different pathophysiological mechanisms seem to reflect different neuropsychological patterns of cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis.The aim of this review is to discuss the studies that have correlated cerebrospinal fluid markers of immune,glial and neuronal pathology with cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis.Although preliminary,these findings suggest that cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers show some correlation with cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis,thus providing interesting insights into the mechanisms underlying the involvement of specific cognitive domains.

Cerebrospinal fluid and neural stem cell niche control

Neurogenesis from inner brain neural stem cells （NSCs） is a process which takes place continuously in mammals through- out their life. However, the main ontogenic difference is the intensity of neurogenesis, which commences as a very intensive and global activity in the early embryonic brain （neural tube）, persists in fetal and newborn stages, and declines significantly in adulthood, becoming restricted to specific places with low neurogenic activity such as the subventricular zone （SVZ） and the subgranular zone （SGZ） in the dentate gyrus （DG） of the hippocampus.

Hepatitis B virus in cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with purulent bacterial meningitis detected by multiplex-PCR:A case report

BACKGROUND Bacterial meningitis(BM)is a common central nervous system inflammatory disease.BM may cause serious complications,and early diagnosis is essential to improve the prognosis of affected patients.CASE SUMMARY A 37-year-old man was hospitalized with purulent meningitis because of worsening headache for 12 h,accompanied by vomiting,fever,and rhinorrhea.Head computed tomography showed a lesion in the left frontal lobe.Infectious disease screening showed positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen,hepatitis B e antigen,and hepatitis B core antigen.Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)leak was suspected based on clinical history.Streptococcus pneumoniae(S.pneumoniae)was detected in CSF by metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)technology,confirming the diagnosis of purulent BM.After treatment,multiplex PCR indicated the presence of hepatitis B virus(HBV)DNA and absence of S.pneumoniae DNA in CSF samples.CONCLUSION We report a rare case of HBV in the CSF of a patient with purulent BM.Multiplex PCR is more sensitive than mNGS for detecting HBV DNA.

Diagnosis of disease-specific proteins in cerebrospinal fluid of children infected with tuberculous meningitis

BACKGROUND： Isolated mycobacterium tuberculosis from cerebrospinal fluid （CSF） is regarded as the ＂gold standard＂ for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis （TBM）. However, culture of CSF specimens is time-consuming and lacks sensitivity. There is a strong need to determine complementary disease-specific markers, which are essential for increasing early diagnosis and improving prognosis in patients with TBM OBJECTIVE： To establish proteomic profiles of CSF in TBM and normal children using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and to screen for disease-specific proteins. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The case-control study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and the Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Ministry of Public Health of China between January 2008 and January 2009. PARTICIPANTS： The TBM group included three patients with a strongly positive tuberculin skin test, as well as positive CSF mycobacterial staining and culture, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital from January 2008 to January 2009. Three healthy, age- and gender-matched children served as the control group. METHODS： CSF proteins were separated using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in both groups. Gels were scanned using Image scanner and LabScan software. Differentially expressed proteins were analyzed using PDQuest 7.0 software. The clearly discernible spots, which were expressed only in the TBM group, were chosen to perform matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Differentially expressed spots on CSF profiles of TBM and normal children were measured. RESULTS： Following comparison of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis maps between TBM and control groups, 546 and 533 spots were detected, respectively. A total of 64 differentially expressed proteins were observed between the groups, including 15 upregulated spots, eight downregulated spots, 27 spots that were exclusively expressed in the TBM group, and 14 spots that were exclusively expressed in the control group. At total of 20 spots that were exclusively expressed in the TBM group were chosen for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, and 20 peptide mass fingerprints were obtained. After searching the data base, 16 proteins were matched. CONCLUSION： Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles of the CSF proteome were successfully established in the TBM and normal children. Parts of these differentially expressed proteins were identified through mass spectrometry and bioinformatics. Results indicated that apolipoprotein A I, anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody, crystal structure of MRP14 and HLA class II histocompatibility antigen DRB1-4 could be closely correlated with TBM pathogenesis.

Secretion of nerve growth factor,brain-derived neurotrophic factor,and glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor in co-culture of four cell types in cerebrospinal fluid-containing medium

The present study co-cultured human embryonic olfactory ensheathJng cells, human Schwann cells, human amniotic epithelial cells and human vascular endothelial cells in complete culture medium- containing cerebrospinal fluid. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor secretion in the supernatant of co-cultured cells. Results showed that the number of all cell types reached a peak at 7-10 days, and the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor peaked at 9 days. Levels of secreted nerve growth factor were four-fold higher than brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which was three-fold higher than glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. Increasing concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid （10%, 20% and 30%） in the growth medium caused a decrease of neurotrophic factor secretion Results indicated co-culture of human embryonic olfactory ensheathing cells, human Schwann cells human amniotic epithelial cells and human vascular endothelial cells improved the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. The reduction of cerebrospinal fluid extravasation at the transplant site after spinal cord injury is beneficial for the survival and secretion of neurotrophic factors from transplanted cells.

Olfactory route for cerebrospinal fluid drainage into the cervical lymphatic system in a rabbit experimental model

The present study analyzed the anatomical association between intracranial subarachnoid space and the cervical lymphatic system. X-ray contrast medium and Microfil （Microfil compounds fill and opacify microvascular and other spaces of non-surviving animals and post-mortem tissue under physiological injection pressure） were injected into the cisterna magna of the rabbit, and perineural routes of cerebrospinal fluid outflow into the lymphatic system were visualized. Under a surgical operating microscope, Microfil was found within the subarachnoid space and along the olfactory nerves. At the nasal mucosa, a lymphatic network was identified near the olfactory nerves, which crossed the nasopharyngeal region and finally emptied into the superficial and deep cervical lymph nodes. Under a light microscope, Microfil was visible around the olfactory nerves and within lymphatic vessels. These results suggested that cerebrospinal fluid drained from the subarachnoid space along the olfactory nerves to nasal lymphatic vessels, which in turn, emptied into the cervical lymph nodes. This anatomical route, therefore, allowed connection between the central nervous system and the lymphatic system.

Levels of soluble delta-like ligand 1 in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of tuberculous meningitis patients

In this study, the levels of soluble delta-like ligand 1 in cerebmspinal fluid and serum of 50 patients with tuberculous meningitis, 30 patients with viral meningitis, 20 patients with purulent meningitis and 40 subjects without central nervous system disease were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean levels of soluble delta-like ligand 1 in both cerebrospinal fluid and serum from patients with tuberculous meningitis were significantly higher compared with those from patients with viral meningitis or purulent meningitis or from subjects without central nervous system disease. Meanwhile, the level of soluble delta-like ligand 1 gradually decreased as tuberculous meningitis patients recovered. If patients deteriorated after treatment, the level of soluble delta-like ligand 1 in cerebrospinal fluid gradually increased. There was no correlation between the level of soluble delta-like ligand 1 and the protein level/cell number in cerebrospinal fluid. Our findings indicate that the levels of soluble delta-like ligand 1 in cerebrospinal fluid and serum are reliable markers for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis and for monitoring treatment progress. At the same time, this index is not influenced by protein levels or cell numbers in cerebrospinal fluid.

Analysis of Glutamic Acid in Cerebrospinal Fluid by Capillary Electrophoresis with High Frequency Conductivity Detection

A rapid method to determine glutamic acid (Glu) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by capillaryelectrophoresis with high frequency conductivity detection (contactless conductivity detection) wasdescribed. The CSF sample was pretreated with silver cation resin to remove high concentration ofCl- ions in CSF. The separation was achieved in the buffer solution of 10 mmol/L Tris and 8mmol/L boric acid at the separation voltage of 20.0 kV. Glu showed linear response in the range of5.0×10-6 to 6.0×10-3 mol/L, the limit of detection was 1.0×10-6 mol/L. The method was used foranalysis Glu in CSF satisfactorily with a recovery of 97.8-98.8%.

Cerebrospinal fluid flow in empty sella syndrome and normal sellar regions measured by phase-contrast quantitative magnetic resonance

We used MRI to examine 38 healthy females and 38 female patients with empty sella syndrome. Cerebrospinal fluid flow was examined in six regions of interest, including the anterior clinoid processes, posterior clinoid processes, and 1.0 mm, 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, --2.0 mm from the midpoint of the line between the anterior and posterior clinoid processes. The results revealed no significant differences in cerebrospinal fluid flow velocity and discharge in a single cardiac cycle, or indicators of cardiac cycles in the control group, indicating that the cerebrospinal fluid flow was relatively steady in the saddle area of the normal brain. In the empty sella syndrome group, cerebrospinal fluid hernia into the saddle area triggered a fluctuation of the anterior and posterior clinoid processes in the saddle area, while the flow in other regions in the saddle area was relatively steady this resulted in significant differences in cerebrospinal fluid flow velocity and discharge, as well as the cardiac cycle.

Effect of Yishen Qiqiao Fang on dopamine content in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative statec

BACKGROUND： It has been demonstrated that the attack of persistent vegetative state is associated with the damaged neuron, which produces dopamine, and nervous pathway, the reduce of dopamine or malfunction of dopamine.OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of self-made traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） Yishen Qiqiao Fang,which has the functions of supplementing qi and nourishing blood, resolving phlegm by promoting blood circulation, restoring consciousness and inducing resuscitation, on the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative state.DESIGN： An open randomized controlled clinical trial.SETTINGS： Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing Zijin Hospital.PARTICIPANTS： Thirty-eight inpatients of persistent vegetative state were selected from the Department of Neurology, Nanjing Zijin Hospital from August 2005 to November 2006. The patients were diagnosed according to the diagnostic standards set by the summary of a meeting for specialists in Nanjing. Informed contents were obtained from their relatives. According to the order of admission, the enrolled patients were divided into control group （n =20） and TCM treated group （n =20）.METHODS： In the control group, the patients were treated with routine treatments for the symptoms. In the TCM treated group, the patients were treated with Yishen Qiqiao Fang besides the same treatments in the control group. TCM dispensing granules： each bag of mongolian milkvetch root, Chinese angelica and peach seed equaled to 10 g crude drug respectively; each bag of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome and dahurian angelica root equaled to 6 g crude drug respectively; Musk 0.05 g. The daily dosage for adults： 4 bags of mongolian milkvetch root, 2 bags of Chinese angelica, 0.05 g musk, 1 bag of peach seed, 2 bags of grassleaf sweetflag rhizome and 2 bags of dahurian angelica root, which should be given though nasal feeding or gastrostogavage before breakfast and supper every day, the course lasted for 2 months. The contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were determined with enzyme immunoassay analyzer before and after treatment in both groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid before and after treatment in both groups.RESULTS： Totally 38 patients of persistent vegetative state were enrolled, 33 of them were involved in the final analysis of results, and the other 5 missed. The contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid had no obvious differences between the two groups both before and after treatment （P〉0.05）. In the control group, the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid had no obvious differences before and after treatment （P〉0.05）. In the TCM treated group, the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid after treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment （t =2.174, 2.485, P〈0.05）.CONCLUSION： Yishen Qiqiao Fang can significantly increase the contents of dopamine in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients in persistent vegetative state, which may be one of the mechanisms for ameliorating persistent vegetative state.