Use of serum C-reactive protein in differentiating septicfrom aseptic meningitis in children

Abstract

LABORATORY STUDIES used with variable success ~ in the differentiation of aseptic from septic meningitis include serum and CSF white blood cell counts and differentials; CSF determinations of glucose, protein, and lactic acid 2.3; pH2; anion gap4; enzymesS; counterimmunoelectrophoresis for identification of common pathogenic bacterial antigens6; nitroblue tetrazolium dye testT; and the limulus lysate test. 8 McCarthy et al. 9 showed serum C-reactive protein to be useful in separating bacterial from viral pneumonia. Since publication of their study, rate immunonephelometry has provided a more sensitive and rapid method of quantifying CRP than the qualitative latex agglutination slide test used in their study. We studied this quantitative CRP method in patients with meningitis. PATIENTS From August to November 1980, 35 consecutive children admitted to Children's Hospital, Louisville, Ky., with more than 10 WBC/mm 3 in their CSF, were defined as having meningitis, There were 19 girls and 16 boys, ranging in age from 8 days to 12 years (mean 1.9 years).