[Pathogenesis of cerebral edema-swelling in bacterial meningoencephalitis].

Nuclear-absorption spectrometry was used to measure concentration of some metals in cerebrospinal liquid (CSL) of 70 patients with bacterial meningoencephalitis and in different brain compartments of 10 dead patients. Estimation of the difference between dry and wet tissue mass provided the picture of watering for different brain parts. A correlation analysis demonstrated a quantitative relationship between metals and water in different brain compartments. Quantitative determination of CSL metals (potassium, sodium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc) enables diagnosis of brain swelling and prognosis of the inflammation outcome.