Detection and significance of calcitonin gene-related peptide in children with enterovirus 71 infected hand foot and mouth disease

Abstract

Objective To detect the plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in children with enterovirus 71(EV71) infected hand foot and mouth disease(HFMD), and explore the relationship between CGRP and the severity of EV71 infected HFMD. Methods Two hundred children with EV71 infected HFMD in Xi′an Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to December 2017 were selected as the research group, and 50 healthy children were selected as control group in the same period.According to the severity of the disease, the research group was divided into the mild group (n=142) and the severe group (n=58). The level of plasma CGRP was detected by ELISA. Results In acute stage, the level of CGRP in children with EV71 infected HFMD was lower than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.235, P<0.001). The level of CGRP in acute stage in severe group[(29.90±5.10)pg/ml] was significantly lower than that of the mild group[(35.51±5.48)pg/ml], and the difference was statistically significant (t=6.615, P=0.001). The level of CGRP in mild group[(35.51±5.48)pg/ml] was slightly lower than that of the control group[(36.63±5.65)pg/ml], but the difference was insignificant (t=1.120, P=0.086). In recovery stage, the level of CGRP in the severe group was obviously higher than that in the acute stage(t=5.924, P=0.003). According to the ROC curve of CGRP in mild and severe EV71 infected HFMD, the critical value of CGRP in mild and severe HFMD was 28.12 pg/ml, and the sensitivity was 80.0% and the specificity was 50.0%. Conclusion The CGRP is associated with the progression of EV71 HFMD, and when CGRP is lower than 28.12 pg/ml, suggesting the possibility of severe HFMD.The decrease of plasma CGRP may be a risk factor for the progression of EV71 infected HFMD. Key words: Hand foot and mouth disease; Enterovirus 71; Calcitonin gene-related peptide