Cerebrospinal fluid specific gravity, total protein and protein pattern analysis were determined in normal parturients and preeclamptic women and compared to findings obtained in young gynecologic patients. The alterations noted in serum proteins during pregnancy were not present in the cerebrospinal fluid of normal parturients and not uniformly demonstrable in preeclamptic women. The altered response to spinal anesthetic drugs during late pregnancy cannot be explained on the basis of alterations in cerebrospinal fluid proteins.