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Validation of Davson's equation in patients suffering from idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Lalou, Afroditi-Despina  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3768-8681
Levrini, Virginia 
Garnett, Matthew 
Nabbanja, Eva 
Kim, Dong-Joo 

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The so-called Davson's equation relates baseline intracranial pressure (ICP) to resistance to cerebrospinal fluid outflow (Rout), formation of cerebrospinal fluid (If) and sagittal sinus pressure (PSS) There is a controversy over whether this fundamental equation is applicable in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). We investigated the relationship between Rout and ICP and also other compensatory, clinical and demographic parameters in NPH patients. METHOD: We carried out a retrospective study of 229 patients with primary NPH who had undergone constant-rate infusion studies in our hospital. Data was recorded and processed using ICM+ software. Relationships between variables were sought by calculating Pearson product correlation coefficients and p values. RESULTS: We found a significant, albeit weak, relationship between ICP and Rout (R = 0.17, p = 0.0049), Rout and peak-to-peak amplitude of ICP (AMP) (R = 0.27, p = 3.577e-05) and Rout and age (R = 0.16, p = 0.01306). CONCLUSIONS: The relationship found between ICP and Rout provides indirect evidence to support disturbed Cerebrospinal fluid circulation as a key factor in disturbed CSF dynamics in NPH. Weak correlation may indicate that other factors-variable PSS and formation of CSF outflow-contribute heavily to linear model expressed by Davson's equation.

Description

Keywords

Davson’s equation, Intracranial pressure, Normal pressure hydrocephalus, Resistance to CSF outflow, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cranial Sinuses, Female, Humans, Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure, Intracranial Pressure, Male, Retrospective Studies, Software

Journal Title

Acta Neurochir (Wien)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0001-6268
0942-0940

Volume Title

160

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC