Author/Editor		Jereb, M; Muzlovič, I; Hojker, S; Strle, F
Title		Predictive value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid procalcitonin levels for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis
Type		članek
Source		Infection
Vol. and No.		Letnik 29
Publication year		2001
Volume		str. 209-12
Language		eng
Abstract		Background: The value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) procalcitonin for differentiating between acute bacterial and viral meningitis was assessed and compared to other parameters which are usually used in clinical practice. Patients: 45 adult patients (20 with bacterial and 25 with tick-borne encephalitis, TBE) were included in this prospective study. Results: The median serum procalcitonin level in patients with bacterial meningitis was 6.45 ng/ml (range 0.2543.76 ng/ml) and in the group with viral meningitis 0.27 ng/ml (range 0.05-0.44 ng/ml). 11 patients with bacterial meningitis had an elevated procalcitonin concentration not only in serum, but also in CSF. A serum procalcitonin level > 0.5 ng/ml had a positive predictive value for bacterial meningitis of 100% and a negative predictive value of 93%, while corresponding values for CSF procalcitonin were 100% and 74%, respectively. Conclusion: Serum and CSF procalcitonin concentrations > 0.5 ng/ml appear to be a reliable indicator of bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infection, with maximal positive predictive values and high negative predictive values.
Descriptors		MENINGITIS, BACTERIAL CALCITONIN PROTEIN PRECURSORS AGE FACTORS PREDICTIVE VALUE OF TESTS SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY DIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIAL ENCEPHALITIS, TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUSES, TICK-BORNE