Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Pediatric Hydrocephalus

Abstract

Hydrocephalus (HC) is a common, debilitating neurological condition that requires urgent clinical decision-making. At present, neurosurgeons rely heavily on a patient's history, physical examination findings, neuroimaging, and clinical judgment to make the diagnosis of HC or treatment failure (e.g., shunt malfunction). Unfortunately, these tools, even in combination, do not eliminate subjectivity in clinical decisions. In order to improve the management of infants and children with HC, there is an urgent need for new biomarkers to complement currently available tools and enable clinicians to confidently establish the diagnosis of HC, assess therapeutic efficacy/treatment failure, and evaluate current and future developmental challenges, so that every child has access to the resources they need to optimize their outcome and quality of life.

Keywords: Biomarker; Cerebrospinal fluid; Congenital hydrocephalus; Hydrocephalus; Intraventricular hemorrhage; Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus.