Altered sensorium in neurological infections and the homeostasis of Mg,Zn, Cu and Ca

In a grave illness the homeostasis of some elements may be upset either by the disease process per se, or by the therapy adopted. Patients with pyogenic, viral and tubercular meningo-encephalitis were targets of interest. 108 subjects' serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compartments were assayed for magnesium, calcium, zinc and copper, by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results showed that the serum pool was more intensely altered than the CSF pool in the case of magnesium and calcium but the reverse occurred for zinc and copper. No organism-dependent change was noted, but comatosed patients were the worst effected. These findings are discussed with respect to the relative brain and CSF content of each element and the patho-physiology which could alter the compartments studied.