[The importance of the method of atomic absorption spectrometry in the diagnosis of brain edema-swelling in bacterial meningoencephalitis].

Nuclear absorption spectrometry was used to quantify concentrations of some metals in the liquor from 70 patients with bacterial meningoencephalitis and in different portions of the brain in 10 deceased patients. By calculation of the difference between dry and wet tissue mass after its drying the authors assessed watering of the brain compartments. The correlation analysis demonstrated a relationship between content of metals and later in the brain. Determination of metal (K, Na, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn) concentrations in the liquor correlating with water content in the brain followed by calculation of the diagnostic coefficients is indicative of the brain edema and swelling degree that helps prognosticate the outcome of the inflammation.