1605 PROSTAGLANDIN LEVELS IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) OF CHILDREN WITH MENINGITIS

Abstract

Prostaglandins (PG) are synthesized in the Central Nervous System (CNS) during inflammatory processes. In order to study the relationship between meningitis and CNS PG production, PGE and PGF2α concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in the initial CSF sample (day 1) of 7 children with bacterial and 4 with aseptic meningitis. Follow-up measurements were also obtained at 3 and 12 days in the bacterial meningitis group. The following results (mean ± SEM) were obtained.The children with bacterial meningitis had significantly higher levels of both PGE (p < 0.001) and F2α (p< 0.03) than did those with aseptic meningitis. Moreover, the PG levels paralleled the clinical course of the bacterial meningitis. In one patient (not included in table) who failed to respond to therapy, the initially high levels (pg/ml) of PGE(1950) and PGF2α (2100) persisted at 3 days (PGE 2250, PGF2α 2200) and 12 days (PGE 2300, PGF2α 2480).Thus, CSF PG measurements may be helpful in distinguishing between bacterial and aseptic meningitis, and may be useful in monitoring the clinical course of bacterial meningitis.