Abstract Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a pathology causing dementia that is reversible. Despite the time elapsed since its discovery, its pathophysiology has not been clearly established and two theories have been proposed that try to explain the process, one based on changes in cerebrospinal fluid flow and the other on cerebral blood flow. In addition, the evaluation and diagnosis process is not determined, since there is no standard method and the symptoms are similar to other pathologies of the central nervous system, leading to the diagnosis as the summation of clinical symptoms and some findings in imaging which are not always constant.

Resumen La hidrocefalia de presión normal es una patología reversible que forma parte de las demencias. A pesar del tiempo que ha transcurrido desde su descubrimiento, su fisiopatología no ha sido claramente establecida y se han planteado dos teorías que buscan explicar el proceso. Una está basada en cambios en el flujo de líquido cefalorraquideo y la otra en el flujo sanguíneo cerebral. Además, el proceso de evaluación y diagnóstico no está determinado, puesto que no existe un método estándar y los síntomas son similares a otras patologías de sistema nervioso central, haciendo que el diagnóstico se realice gracias a la suma de los síntomas clínicos y ciertos hallazgos imagenológicos que no son siempre constantes.

Foram estudadas as características fisicoquímicas e citológicas do líquido sinovial da articulação temporomandibular de dez eqüinos hígidos. Verificou-se que o líquido é viscoso, amarelo claro a citrino, límpido e livre de partículas à temperatura ambiente. Houve contaminação da amostra por sangue em três amostras que se apresentaram amarelo avermelhadas a vermelhas e de aspecto turvo. A taxa de glicose variou entre 100 e 250 e a concentração protéica não ultrapassou 3,8g/dL. O número médio de células nucleadas foi de 417 células/µL, com predominância de grandes células mononucleares e linfócitos. As mensurações das características pesquisadas no líquido sinovial da articulação temporomandibular de eqüinos são de execução simples e passíveis de implantação na rotina de atendimentos clínico-cirúrgicos.

Physical, biochemical and cytological characteristics of the temporomandibular joint synovial fluid were studied in ten clinically normal horses. It is a viscous, pale yellow, clear fluid and without flocculent material at room temperature. There was blood contamination in three samples, they presented red-yellow to red and cloudy. The range of glucose levels were 100 to 250 and its protein concentration was up to 3,8g/dL. Nucleated cells mean number was 417 cells/µL, with predominating large mononuclear cells and lymphocytes. Equine temporomandibular synovial fluids can be easily evaluated, being feasible in clinical and surgical routine, and the information may be useful to the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of animals with temporomandibular alterations.