استخدام مستويات طليعة الكالسيتونين المصلية للتمييز بين التهاب السحايا الجرثومي والعقيم لدى الأطفال

Abstract EN

The bacterial meningitis is a serious disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality rate; it can lead to permanent neurological sequels particularly in children.

The current standard for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is culture and microscopic examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

The percentage of positive microscopic results is only 25%.

Culture sensitivity is 70- 85%, its results may be available after 24- 48 hours, and sometimes it may take even longer, for instance, when the number of bacteria in the CSF is low or the bacteria has slowly growing.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis of septic meningitis in children, and its efficacy in differential diagnosis between bacterial meningitis and aseptic meningitis.

This study included 72 children affected with meningitis (41 children with aseptic meningitis, 31 children with septic meningitis) and 23 apparently healthy children (controls).

The following biochemical parameters were measured: serum Procacitonin, interleukin 6, C reactive protein and white blood count for all studied samples.

Our study showed that serum PCT levels were significantly higher (P=0.020) in children with septic meningitis (9.32±4.61 ng/ml) than those with aseptic meningitis (0.24±0.11 ng/ml).

The results of IL-6 measurement were as the following: 224±109 pg/ml in group of septic meningitis and in 9±7.12 pg/ml children in group of aseptic meningitis.

As Conclusion, serum PCT level may be used as diagnostic marker for septic meningitis, and its differentiation from aseptic meningitis