Clinical meaning about assay the complement C3,C4 and C-reactive protein in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of children′s central nervous system infection

Abstract

Objective To clarify the meaning of distinguish and diagnose the pathogensis about children′s central nervous system infection(CNSI) through assaying the content of C3, C4 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the relationship of complement C3, C4 in CSF and serum of CNSI. Methods Use the rate nephelometry assay the patients′ complement C3, C4 and CRP in CSF and serum which existed in 38 cases of virus meningitis(VM) (group A), 10 cases of purulent meningitis (PM) (group B), 18 cases of tubercular meningitis(TM) (group C) and 22 cases of non-central nerve system infection(NCNSI) (control group). Results ①The positive rate of C3 in CSF is 100%, 88.88%, 5.20% and 0 in group B, C, A and control group respectively. And C4 in CSF is 80.00%, 44.44%, 0 and 0 respectively. There is a significant difference between group B, C, A and control group (P 0.05). ② The assay results of C3 and C4 in serum is in normal reference range.The comparison between two groups had no significant difference(P>0.05). There is no positive correlation between C3, C4 in CSF and C3, C4 in serum in the same group.③The value of CRP in CSF and serum group B and C is higher than that of A and control group (P 0.05). Conclusion Complement C3, C4, CRP in CSF and CRP in serum have high referenced value upon distinguish and diagnose the virus meningitis and bacterial meningitis. Complement C3, C4 in CSF and complement C3, C4 in serum do not have significant relevance. Key words: central nervous system; infection; cerebrospinal fluid; serum; complement C3, C4; C-reactive protein (CRP)