[Diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid analysis].

The increasing importance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis as a diagnostic tool in neurology is the consequence of major advances in neuroimmunology. Thus, immunological mechanisms are involved not only in acute infections of the CNS but also play a role in many subacute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the nervous system as well as in neoplastic disorders. CSF analysis is important to the clinician in providing clues for the detection of immune processes that are restricted to the brain. A wide variety of techniques, including cytological, bacteriological, virological and immunological methods, are now available as routine clinical laboratory tests. A few clinically relevant applications in study of the CSF are discussed.