Early diagnosis of diseases through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the importance of early diagnosis using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in diseases of the central nervous system, highlighting scientific advances related to cerebrospinal biomarkers and modern laboratory methods applied to diagnostic neurology. The research is characterized as a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory literature review, conducted through searches in the SciELO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and CAPES databases. Descriptors related to cerebrospinal fluid, biomarkers, early diagnosis, and neurological diseases were used, applying previously established inclusion and exclusion criteria. At the end of the selection process, 15 scientific studies were included for analysis. The results showed that CSF has high diagnostic relevance in infectious, neurodegenerative, and demyelinating diseases, especially through the use of biomarkers such as total tau, phosphorylated tau, and beta-amyloid, in addition to molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and automated detection systems. Technological advances significantly increased the sensitivity and specificity of cerebrospinal examinations, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses. It is concluded that early diagnosis using CSF represents an important tool in modern neurology, contributing to improved clinical prognosis, more effective therapeutic definition, and reduction of complications associated with central nervous system diseases.