Xanthochromia

The xanthochromia or liquor xanthochromia (v. Greek : xantho- = word part "yellow"; chromie derived from chroma = color) is a medical term that is synonymous with xanthochromasia. This is a yellow, pink, or reddish-brown discoloration of the cerebrospinal fluid that occurs as a result of bleeding into the fluid space or an increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier for bilirubin . If there is bleeding into the liquor space, hemoglobin will leak from the red blood cells ( erythrocytes ). The hemoglobin and its breakdown products give the liquor its changed color.

Typical causes can be:

• severe jaundice
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• excessive protein increase