C - reactive protein of cerebrospinal fluid, as a sensitive approach for diagnosis of neonatal meningitis

• Published in: African health sciences 2019-09, Vol.19 (3), p.2372-2377
• Main Authors: Javadinia, Shima, Tabasi, Mohsen, Naghdalipour, Mehri, Atefi, Najmosadat, Asgarian, Ramin, Khezerloo, Jamil Kheirvari, Tabatabaei, Azardokht
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomarkers; C-reactive protein; C-Reactive Protein - cerebrospinal fluid; cerebrospinal fluid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis, Differential; diagnostic value; Female; Humans; infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Meningitis - diagnosis; Meningitis, Aseptic - diagnosis; septic/aseptic meningitis
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503; 1680-6905
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v19i3.10

Background: Meningitis, is a potentially life-threatening condition that can rapidly progress to permanent brain damage, neurologic problems, and even death. Bacteria and viruses cause the great majority of meningitis disease in infants and children. CRP is used mainly as a marker of inflammation. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of CSF-CRP levels for differentiating between septic (bacterial) and aseptic infantile meningitis. Methods: 49 hospitalized infants aged less than two months with suspected meningitis were enrolled in a cross-sectional analytic study. All of patients underwent lumbar puncture to obtain CSF. smears, cultures, cytological and biochemical analysis and latex agglutination testing were carried out on all CSF samples. Latex agglutination test was carried out on all CSF samples using a commercially available kit. CSF-CRP level of all infants was measured using the immunoturbidometric technique. Results: Of 49 infants in this study, 20 and 29 cases were diagnosed as septic and aseptic meningitis, respectively. The CRP levels were obtained as 0.95±0.68 mg/L in septic and 0.16±0.36 mg/L in aseptic meningitis groups and this difference was statistically significant (p