اهمية معايرة البروتين الارتكاسي C للمصل والسائل الدماغي الشوكي في تدبير التهاب السحايا عند الاطفال

The study included 42 patients admitted to Pediatrics Department in AL-ASSAD University Hospital in the year (2003-2004), with diagnosis of meningitis by lumbar puncture which was considered positive according to the following values: 1- Newborns: > 20 lymphocyte or > 10 polymorphinuclear cells. 2- Infants and children: > 5 lymphocytes or polymorphinuclear cells. The following laboratory parameters were performed to all patients: - Blood: complete blood count, sugar, CRP. - Cerebrospinal fluid (C.S.F): white blood cell count, sugar, protein, CRP, and culture. We divided the pateints into the following groups: 1- Newborn group: this group included 12 patients (8♂, 4 ♀), and C.S.F CRP was positive in only 7 patients, with sensitivity of 58 % and there was no relationship between WBC in C.S.F and the value of CRP in C.S.F, serum CRP was positive in all patients with sensitivity of 100 % . 2- Children aged less than 2 years: it included 20 patients (12 ♂,8 ♀), bacterial meningitis was diagnosed in 8 patients (40%) and viral meningitis in 12 patients, sensitivity of C.S.F CRP and serum CRP was 100 %, specifity of C.S.F CRP and serum CRP was 75 %, 25 % respectively, and positive predictive value was 73 %, 50 % respectively, negative predictive value was 100%, 75 % respectively. 3- Children aged more than 2 years: included 10 patients (7 ♂, 3 ♀), bacterial meningitis was diagnosed in 5 patients( 50 %), sensitivity of C.S.F CRP and serum CRP was 100%, 80 % respectively, and specifity was 100%, 20 % respectively, positive predictive value was 100%, 50 % respectively, negative predictive value was 100%, 50 % respectively .