Hospital Virtual Tour

CSF-VDRL test - Risks

Alternative Names

Venereal disease research laboratory slide test - CSF

What the risks are:

Risks of lumbar puncture include:
- Hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to the anesthetic
- Discomfort during the test
- Headache after the test
- Bleeding into the spinal canal
- Brain herniation (if performed on a person with increased intracranial pressure) which may result in brain damage or death
- Damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots

CSF test for syphilis

Reviewed last on: 6/18/2007
Mark Levin, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

References

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Syphilis Infection: Recommendation Statement. Ann Fam Med 2004; 2: 362-365.

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CSF-VDRL test - Risks

Alternative Names

What the risks are:

References