Low Incidence of Post-Lumbar Puncture Headache in 1,089 Consecutive Memory Clinic Patients

AIM: To examine the incidence of post-lumbar puncture headache (PLPH) in patients admitted for cognitive disturbances. METHODS: The incidence of PLPH and other general (subdural hematoma, meningitis, encephalitis) or local (local pain, spinal hematoma, local infection) complications was evaluated in 1,089 consecutive patients (aged 23-89 years) who underwent lumbar puncture as a part of the routine diagnostic evaluation between February 2001 and March 2007 at a specialized memory clinic. RESULTS: 28 (2.6%) of the patients reported PLPH of mild severity. No other local or general complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of PLPH in patients with cognitive disturbances is low and CSF analyses can thus be part of the diagnostic work-up at memory clinics.