Cerebrospinal fluid production is normal in Down syndrome

The rate of production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the caudorostral gradients of total CSF protein were measured in seven subjects with Down syndrome (DS) and compared to age-matched healthy normal volunteers. The CSF production rate in DS subjects (0.35 ± 0.02 mL/min.) did not differ significantly from normal subjects (0.37 ± 0.09 mL/min.). In addition, the caudorostral gradient of total protein was similar in DS and normal subjects, with more caudal fractions of lumbar CSF having higher total protein levels than more rostral fractions. These data suggest that there is no gross distrubance in CSF dynamics in DS.