化脓性脑膜炎和病毒性脑炎患儿脑脊液中IL-8和TNF水平的改变及意义

目的：了解化脓性脑膜炎和病毒性脑炎患儿脑脊液(CSF)中白细胞介素8(IL-8)和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)水平的改变及临床意义。方法：采用ELISA法对20例化脓性脑膜炎(PM),17例病毒性脑膜脑炎(VME),25例病毒性脑炎(VE)患儿和15例对照组儿童CSF中IL-8和TNF水平进行了检测。并观察CSF中IL-8,TNF水平与CSF常规及生化检查各指标的相关性。结果：PM组CSF中IL-8和TNF水平分别为(443±247) ng/L和(640±283) ng/L,明显高于VME组［(184±86) ng/L和(154±95) ng/L］,VE组［(54±36) ng/L和(30±26) ng/L］和对照组［(27±20) ng/L和(24±21) ng/L］(P<0.01);VME组CSF中IL-8和TNF水平亦高于VE组和对照组(P<0.01);VE组CSF中IL-8较对照组有所升高(P<0.05),但其TNF水平与对照组比较差异无显著性(P>0.05)。对患儿CSF中IL-8与TNF进行相关性分析显示：PM组IL-8与TNF呈明显正相关(r=0.682,P<0.01);VME组IL-8与TNF亦呈一定正相关关系(r=0.534,P<0.05)。对患儿CSF常规和生化检查各指标与IL-8,TNF进行相关性分析显示：PM组患儿CSF中性粒细胞计数与IL-8水平呈明显正相关(r=0.777,P<0.01),而VME组和VE组患儿CSF中性粒细胞数与IL-8水平未见显著相关性;3组患儿CSF中性粒细胞数与TNF水平未见相关性;CSF单核细胞数、蛋白质及糖定量与IL-8和TNF间均无相关性。结论：IL-8参与了化脓性脑膜炎和病毒性脑炎的病理生理过程,而TNF可能主要参与脑膜局部(包括化脓性和病毒性)的炎症过程,提示CSF中IL-8和TNF的检测可作为化脓性脑膜炎诊断的一项参考指标。     

碳氧血红蛋白测定对新生儿黄疸诊断的价值

目的：探讨碳氧血红蛋白测定在新生儿黄疸诊断中的临床价值。方法：189例新生儿黄疸患儿(新生儿溶血病75例,感染52例,颅内出血32例,晚发母乳黄疸30例)及142例对照组患儿同步测定动脉化毛细血管血碳氧血红蛋白(COHb)和血清总胆红素(STB);溶血组予大剂量静脉免疫球蛋白治疗后测定COHb及STB,应用SAS6.12统计软件进行处理。结果：溶血组COHb及STB分别为(3.64±0.83)%,330.84±77.15μmol/L,显著高于对照组的(2.38±0.35)%和130.18±32.86μmol/L(P<0.01);颅内出血组COHb及STB分别为(2.48±0.53)%,184.15±29.35μmol/L,高于对照组的(2.24±0.32)%及112.11±17.45μmol/L(P<0.05);感染及母乳黄疸组STB分别为286.71±45.66μmol/L,299.15±44.14μmol/L,显著高于对照组146.23±31.26μmol/L及57.33±7.83μmol/L(P<0.01),而COHb为(2.36±0.50)%及(1.84±0.49)%与对照组(2.20±0.39)%及(1.67±0.43)%比较,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。溶血性高间胆组STB低于非溶血性高间胆组(P<0.01),而COHb显著高于后者(P<0.01)。溶血组大剂量静脉免疫球蛋白治疗前后COHb分别为(3.64±0.83)%及(2.68±0.51)%,STB分别为330.84±77.15μmol/L及230.18±42.96μmol/L,治疗前后比较差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论：COHb测定可作为胆红素产量的指标,有助于新生儿黄疸病因诊断及指导治疗。     

血前降钙素在儿童细菌性脑膜炎诊断中的应用价值探讨

目的　证实血前降钙素在小儿急性细菌性脑膜炎及病毒性脑炎鉴别诊断中的作用。方法　应用双位点夹心化学免疫荧光法对 6 7例中枢神经系统感染患儿的血浆前降钙素水平进行测定 ,并比较血清C反应蛋白 ,脑脊液白细胞数、蛋白含量对感染病因辅助诊断的价值。结果　 4 5例急性细菌性脑膜炎患儿血浆前降钙素水平明显升高 (4 6 4～ 74 5 0 μg/L) ,2 2例病毒性脑炎的血前降钙素水平仅有轻度升高 (0 10～ 1 2 2 μg/L) ,P <0 0 0 0 1。而血清C反应蛋白 ,脑脊液白细胞数及蛋白含量在急性细菌性脑膜炎及病毒性脑炎中有重叠。结论　血前降钙素是鉴别儿童急性细菌性脑膜炎及病毒性脑炎的有效指标     

脑脊液CK-BB测定在诊断细菌性脑膜炎中的意义

目的：了解脑脊液中CK-BB浓度测定对鉴别细菌性脑膜炎和病毒性脑膜炎的意义。方法：测定怀疑中枢神经系统感染的85例患儿脑脊液中CK-BB浓度,其中,经确诊无中枢神经系统感染患儿17例,病毒性脑膜炎患儿36例,细菌性脑膜炎患儿32例。结果：以无中枢神经系统感染的17例作为对照组,其CSF中CK-BB浓度为(0.90±0.63) U/L,病毒性脑膜脑炎中CK-BB为(1.20±0.52) U/L;细菌性脑膜炎的CSF中CK-BB浓度为(32.40±13.60) U/L,显著高于病毒性脑膜炎患儿(t=2.95,P<0.01)和对照组(t=3.12,P<0.01)。结论：脑脊液中CK-BB可作为鉴别细菌性脑膜炎和病毒性脑膜炎的一项可靠指标。     

血清可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1与重症肺炎的关系研究

目的：血清可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1（sICAM-1）是人体内重要的细胞表面黏附分子，参与机体众多的免疫反应及炎症反应，但其在重症肺炎患儿中的表达情况，以及与重症肺炎的关系，则未见系统的研究。该研究探讨血清sICAM-1在重症肺炎发病过程中的变化及其与重症肺炎的关系。方法：采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法测定50例重症肺炎患儿和56例普通肺炎患儿不同病程中的血清sICAM-1水平，以及52例健康对照组小儿血清sICAM-1水平。结果：重症肺炎急性期血清sICAM-1为402.36±31.24 μg/L，明显高于其恢复期水平的198.56±12.63 μg/L，差异具有显著性(P<0.01),与普通肺炎急性期的278.86±36.24 μg/L及健康对照组 180.74±21.46 μg/L比较，差异亦有显著性(P<0.01)；重症肺炎恢复期血清sICAM-1水平与普通肺炎恢复期的193.42±23.65 μg/L及健康对照组比较，则差异无显著性（P >0.05）；重症细菌性肺炎、病毒性肺炎、支原体（MP）肺炎、病毒与细菌混合感染性肺炎急性期血清sICAM-1分别为412.15±18.36 μg/L、386.25±31.62 μg/L、398.41±16.83 μg/L、389.76±24.88 μg/L，差异均无显著性（P>0.05）；重症肺炎经治疗后痊愈病例及好转病例急性期血清sICAM-1分别为396.18±22.31 μg/L，392.79±37.43 μg/L，差异也无显著性（P >0.05）。结论：sICAM-1可能参与了重症肺炎的炎症过程，其水平变化可以作为重症肺炎的诊断及病情轻重的判断指标之一。［中国当代儿科杂志，2007，9（6）：537-539］     

儿童川崎病骨钙素变化及意义研究

目的 观察不同形式的骨钙素在儿童川崎病中的变化,研究其与川崎病的关系。方法 选取2015年3月至12月在山西省儿童医院心血管与风湿免疫科确诊为川崎病的34例住院患儿,根据病程,每例患儿被分为急性期、亚急性期;对照组20例,检测各组血浆中N端中段骨钙素、羧化不全骨钙素水平,同时分析血沉（ESR）和 C反应蛋白（CRP）,比较骨钙素和ESR、CRP在川崎病中的变化。结果 患儿在急性期和亚急性期的血浆羧化不全骨钙素的水平均明显低于对照组［急性期为（14.2±0.3） μg/L,亚急性期为（14.4±0.3） μg/L,对照组为（16.3±0.4） μg/L,P均＜0.01］。与对照组相比,患儿血浆N端中段骨钙素的水平无明显变化［急性期为（27.3±0.5） μg/L,亚急性期为（27.5±0.5） μg/L,对照组为（28.3±0.8） μg/L,P均＞0.05］。急性期的患儿CRP水平明显高于亚急性期［急性期为（79.1±10.3） mg/L vs.亚急性期为（2.7±0.5） mg/L,P＜0.001］。急性期的患儿ESR水平高于亚急性期［急性期为（58.5±4.1） mm/h vs.亚急性期为（49.1±4.7） mm/h,P＜0.05］。急性期的患儿血浆羧化不全骨钙素与ESR、CRP均呈负相关（P均＜0.05）。结论 血浆中羧化不全的骨钙素有可能参与了川崎病的发生、发展,测定其水平有助于儿童川崎病的诊断。     

前降钙素、白细胞介素6和C反应蛋白在细菌性脑膜炎中的诊断价值

目的 比较前降钙素(PCT)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)和C反应蛋白(CRP)在急性细菌性脑膜炎(菌脑)与病毒性脑炎(病脑)鉴别诊断中的作用。方法 采用双抗体夹心免疫发光法测定菌脑20例、病脑19例血浆PCT含量,采用双抗体夹心免疫吸附法(ELISA)测其脑脊液IL-6含量,血CRP含量采用ELISA法测定。结果 与病脑组比较,菌脑组血浆PCT和CRP及脑脊液IL-6含量明显升高,其诊断灵敏性为100.0％,特异性为89.5％,明显优于CRP和IL-6。结论 PCT是鉴别菌脑与病脑灵敏、有效的指标。     

中枢神经系统感染患儿血浆和脑脊液β-内啡肽的变化及临床意义

目的 探讨β-内啡肽(β-EP)在中枢神经系统(CNS)感染中的变化。方法 用放射免疫法分别测定了45例病毒性脑炎、18例化脓性脑膜炎、6例结核性脑膜炎及19例对照组患儿血浆和脑脊液(CSF)中β-EP含量。结果 病毒性脑炎组血浆和CSF中β-EP含量分别为(39.9±24.8) ng/L,(44.8±32.6) ng/L,化脓性脑膜炎组分别为(49.9±28.3) ng/L,(62.1±46.9) ng/L,对照组分别为(14.8±6.6) ng/L,(9.8±6.2) ng/L,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01)。结核性脑膜炎组血浆和CSF中β-EP分别为(44.1±25.3) ng/L,(55.8±46.2) ng/L,亦明显高于对照组,差异有显著意义(P<0.05)。CNS感染伴神经功能重度障碍组血浆和CSF中β-EP分别为(71.7±20.5) ng/L,(92.1±38.8) ng/L,显著高于神经功能轻中度障碍组分别为(47.1±22.8) ng/L,(55.2±32.8) ng/L和对照组(均P<0.01);神经功能轻中度障碍组血浆和CSF中β EP显著高于对照组( P <0.01)。结论 血浆和CSF中β-EP含量增高尤其后者可作为估量脑水肿或急性脑损伤严重程度的参考指标。     

脑脊液磷酸己糖异构酶检测用于脑膜炎诊断的探讨

应用比色法检测１５例化脓性脑膜炎，１４例病毒性脑膜炎或脑炎，２３例非神经系统疾患患儿的脑脊液磷酸己糖异构酶活性。三组患儿脑脊液磷酸己糖异构酶活性分别为４０７．０±７６．１、１５．０±３．５和７．０±１．０Ｕ／Ｌ。化脓性脑膜炎组患儿脑脊液酶活性显著高于其他二组（Ｐ＜０．０１），而病毒性脑膜炎或脑炎组和对照组比较，差异无显著意义（Ｐ＞０．０５）。提示脑脊液磷酸己糖异构酶测定在化脓性脑膜炎的诊断及病毒性脑膜炎或脑炎的鉴别诊断方面有很高的应用价值。     

颅内感染患儿血及脑脊液β-内啡肽及C-反应蛋白的变化

目的探讨颅内感染患儿联合检测血及脑脊液(CSF)β-内啡肽(-βEP)及C-反应蛋白(CRP)的临床意义。方法65例确诊颅内感染患儿为观察组,其中病毒性脑炎组(病脑组)48例,化脓性脑膜炎组(化脑组)12例,结核性脑膜炎组(结脑组)5例,用放射免疫法分别测定急性期及恢复期血及CSF中-βEP及CRP含量;另外24例有神经系统表现但非颅内感染患儿作为对照组。结果感染早期观察组血及CSF中-βEP含量均明显升高,高于对照组;恢复期上述指标明显下降。化脑组与病脑组、结脑组及对照组比较,血清CRP浓度在急性期明显升高,恢复期明显下降;而病脑组和结脑组始终在正常范围;各组CSFCRP浓度在急性期及恢复期无明显变化。结论测定血及CSF中-βEP含量有助于早期诊断颅内感染,同时检测血清CRP有助于早期鉴别化脓性及非化脓性感染。     

Comparison of procalcitonin with C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha for differentiation of bacterial vs. viral infections.

BACKGROUND: Procalcitonin (PCT) concentration increases in bacterial infections but remains low in viral infections and inflammatory diseases. The change is rapid and the molecule is stable, making it a potentially useful marker for distinguishing between bacterial and viral infections. METHODS: PCT concentration was determined with an immunoluminometric assay on plasma collected at admission in 360 infants and children hospitalized for bacterial or viral infection. It was compared with C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha measured on the same sample. RESULTS: The mean PCT concentration was 46 microg/l (median, 17.8) in 46 children with septicemia or bacterial meningitis. PCT concentration was > 1 microg/l in 44 of 46 in this group and in 59 of 78 children with a localized bacterial infection who had a negative blood culture (sensitivity, 83%). PCT concentration was > 1 microg/l in 16 of 236 children with a viral infection (specificity, 93%). PCT concentration was low in 9 of 10 patients with inflammatory disease and fever. A CRP value > or =20 mg/l was observed in 61 of 236 patients (26%) with viral infection and in 105 of 124 patients (86%) with bacterial infection. IL-6 was > 100 pg/ml in 14% of patients infected with virus and in 53% with bacteria. A secretion of interferon-alpha was found in serum in 77% of viral infected patients and in 8.6% of bacterial infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this study a PCT value of 1 microg/l or greater had better specificity, sensitivity and predictive value than CRP, interleukin 6 and interferon-alpha in children for distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections. PCT values are higher in invasive bacterial infections, but the cutoff value of 1 microg/l indicates the severity of the disease in localized bacterial infection and helps to decide antibiotic treatment in emergency room. PCT may be useful in an emergency room for differentiation of bacterial vs. viral infections in children and for making decisions about antibiotic treatments.     

Non‐specific host response markers in the differentiation between pneumococcal and viral pneumonia: What is the most accurate combination?

BACKGROUND: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), blood white cell count (WBC), serum procalcitonin (PCT) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured in 132 children hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia. Serological evidence for viral infection was found in 38 cases and for pneumococcal infection in 41 cases, and the infiltrate was alveolar in 46 cases and interstitial in 86 cases. The aim of the present paper was to determine if there is a combination of these four host response markers and chest radiograph findings suitable for differentiating pneumococcal from viral etiology of pneumonia. METHODS: The 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles of CRP, WBC, ESR and PCT in the total group of 132 patients were calculated. By using these cut-off limits, the likelihood ratios of a positive test result were calculated for the possible combinations of CRP, WBC, ESR and PCT, and the likelihood ratio was 1.50 or more for six combinations. RESULTS: The highest likelihood ratio (1.74) was achieved with the combination CRP > 90th (80 mg/L) or WBC > 75th (17.0 x 10(9)/L) or PCT > 75th (0.84 microg/L) or ESR > 90th (63 mm/h) percentile. For this combination, the sensitivity was 61% and the specificity 65%. When the 90th percentile cut-off limit was applied also for WBC (>22 x 10(9)/L) and PCT (>1.8 microg/L), the specificity increased to 76%, but the sensitivity decreased to 37%. When the presence of an alveolar infiltration was included in the combination, the likelihood ratio was 1.89; the specificity was as high as 82% and the sensitivity as low as 34%. CONCLUSIONS: CRP, PCT, WBC and ESR have only limited value in differentiating pneumococcal or other bacterial pneumonia from viral pneumonia. If there was a high value in at least one of the markers (CRP > 80 mg/L, PCT > 1.8 microg/L, WBC > 22 x 10(9)/L or ESR > 60 mm/h), viral infections were rare. There was no combination of these markers which was sufficiently sensitive and specific to be used in clinical pediatric practice.     

Differentiation of bacterial and viral community-acquired pneumonia in children

Background: Microbe‐specific diagnosis of pediatric community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) and the distinction between typical‐bacterial, atypical‐bacterial and viral cases are difficult. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of four serum non‐specific inflammatory markers and their combinations, supplemented by chest radiological findings, in the screening of bacterial etiology of pediatric CAP. Methods: Serum procalcitonin (PCT), serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), blood erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and white blood cell (WBC) counts were determined in 101 children with CAP, all confirmed on chest radiograph. Evidence of etiology was achieved in 68 patients (67%) mainly using a serologic test panel including 15 pathogens. Results: For the combination of CRP > 100 mg/L, WBC count > 15 × 10⁹/L, PCT > 1.0 ng/mL and ESR > 65 mm/h, the likelihood ratio for a positive test result (LR+) was 2.7 in the distinction between pneumococcal and viral CAP and 3.9 between atypical and viral CAP. If there was a higher value in one of these four parameters (CRP > 200 mg/L, WBC count > 22 × 10⁹/L, PCT > 18 ng/mL or ESR > 90 mm/h) LR+ changed to ≥3.4, which means a significant increase from pre‐test to post‐test disease probability. An alveolar radiological infiltration was associated with higher values in non‐specific inflammatory markers when compared with interstitial infiltrates, but there were no significant associations between radiological and etiological findings. Conclusions: CRP, WBC count, PCT and ESR or their combinations have a limited role in screening between bacterial and viral pediatric CAP. If all or most of these markers are elevated, bacterial etiology is highly probable, but low values do not rule out bacterial etiology.     

C-reactive protein is useful in distinguishing Gram stain-negative bacterial meningitis from viral meningitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify to what extent Gram stain-negative bacterial meningitis can be distinguished from viral meningitis by assessment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood indices and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in children over 3 months of age. DESIGN: Common CSF indices, blood leukocyte counts, and serum CRP values were compared between patients with bacterial meningitis who had a positive CSF bacterial culture but a negative Gram stain and patients with viral meningitis. POPULATION: Three hundred twenty-five consecutive patients with CSF culture-proven bacterial meningitis, for whom Gram stain was negative in 55 cases, and 182 children with proven or presumed viral meningitis. RESULTS: Significant differences between patients with bacterial and viral meningitis were found in all indices with large overlap in all except serum CRP. In patients with bacterial meningitis, the mean CSF glucose concentration, protein concentration, leukocyte count, blood leukocyte count, and serum CRP were 2.9 mmol/L (52 mg/dL), 1.88 g/L, 4540 x 10(6)/L, 18.0 x 10(9)/L, and 115 mg/L; and in those with viral meningitis, mean values were 3.3 mmol/L (59 mg/dL), 0.52 g/L, 240 x 10(6)/L, 10.6 x 10(9)/L, and <20 mg/L, respectively. Of the tests investigated in this study, only serum CRP was capable of distinguishing Gram stain-negative bacterial meningitis from viral meningitis on admission with high sensitivity (96%), high specificity (93%), and high negative predictive value (99%). CONCLUSION: Exclusion of bacterial meningitis with only the conventional tests is difficult. Combined with careful physical examination and CSF analyses, serum CRP measurement affords substantial aid.     

Procalcitonin is a marker of severity of renal lesions in pyelonephritis

OBJECTIVE: In an attempt to differentiate acute pyelonephritis from lower urinary tract infection (UTI), we measured serum procalcitonin levels, a recently described marker of infection. We compared it with other commonly used inflammatory markers and evaluated its ability to predict renal involvement as assessed by dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy. METHODS: Serum C-reactive protein, leukocyte counts, and procalcitonin levels were measured in 80 children, 1 month to 16 years of age, admitted for suspected pyelonephritis. Renal involvement was assessed by 99mTe-DMSA scintigraphy in the first 5 days after admission. The examination was repeated at least 3 months later if the first result was abnormal. RESULTS: In lower UTI, the mean procalcitonin (PCT) was 0.38 micrograms/L +/- 0.19 compared with 5.37 micrograms/L +/- 1.9 in pyelonephritis. In these two groups, respectively, leukocyte counts were 10939/mm3 +/- 834 and 17429/mm3 +/- 994, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were 30.3 mg/L +/- 7.6 and 120.8 mg/L +/- 8.9. When inflammatory markers were correlated to the severity of the renal lesion as ranked by DMSA scintigraphy, we found a highly significant correlation with plasma levels of PCT, but borderline significance with CRP and none with leukocyte counts. Patients without vesicoureteral reflux had a mean PCT of 5.16 micrograms/L +/- 2.33, which was not significantly different from that in patients with reflux who had a mean PCT of 5.76 micrograms/L +/- 3.49. For the prediction of renal lesions at admission, CRP had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 26.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of PCT were 70.3% and 82.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that serum PCT levels were increased significantly in children with febrile UTI when renal parenchymal involvement (assessed by DMSA scintigraphy) was present and allowed for prediction of patients at risk of severe renal lesions.     

Procalcitonin in children admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia.

AIMS: To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of procalcitonin (PCT) in differentiating bacterial and viral causes of pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 72 children with community acquired pneumonia were studied. Ten had positive blood culture for Streptococcus pneumoniae and 15 had bacterial pneumonia according to sputum analysis (S pneumoniae in 15, Haemophilus influenzae b in one). Ten patients had Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and 37 were infected with viruses, eight of whom had viral infection plus bacterial coinfection. PCT concentration was compared to C reactive protein (CRP) concentration and leucocyte count, and, if samples were available, interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentration. RESULTS: PCT concentration was greater than 2 microg/l in all 10 patients with blood culture positive for S pneumoniae; in eight of these, CRP concentration was above 60 mg/l. PCT concentration was greater than 1 microg/l in 86% of patients with bacterial infection (including Mycoplasma and bacterial superinfection of viral pneumonia). A CRP concentration of 20 mg/l had a similar sensitivity but a much lower specificity than PCT (40% v 86%) for discriminating between bacterial and viral causes of pneumonia. PCT concentration was significantly higher in cases of bacterial pneumonia with positive blood culture whereas CRP concentration was not. Specificity and sensitivity were lower for leucocyte count and IL-6 concentration. CONCLUSIONS: PCT concentration, with a threshold of 1 microg/l is more sensitive and specific and has greater positive and negative predictive values than CRP, IL-6, or white blood cell count for differentiating bacterial and viral causes of community pneumonia in untreated children admitted to hospital as emergency cases.     

血前降钙素在小儿重症感染诊断中的作用

目的　评价血清前降钙素在重症感染诊断中的作用。方法　应用免疫荧光法对 30例重症感染患儿于入院时和入院后 4 8h进行血清前降钙素水平测定 ,并比较血清CRP、白细胞计数对感染疾病的实验室诊断价值。结果　 17例细菌感染患儿血清前降钙素水平明显升高 ,13例病毒感染患儿血前降钙素水平正常或仅有轻度升高。血清CRP在两组间有数据重叠。经有效抗生素治疗后 ,血清前降钙素水平的下降幅度明显大于血清的下降幅度 (P分别为 0 0 2 8和 0 196 )。结论　血前降钙素是鉴定细菌感染和病毒感染的重要指标 ,是判断细菌感染治疗效果的客观依据之一     

Serum procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 for distinguishing bacterial and viral pneumonia in children

OBJECTIVE: Serum procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were measured in 126 children hospitalized for community-acquired, radiologically confirmed pneumonia to assess whether these host response values could be used to distinguish bacterial from viral pneumonia. METHODS: The samples for PCT, CRP and IL-6 measurements were obtained on admission or the first day of hospitalization. The etiology of pneumonia was studied with an extensive panel of methods that detected 6 bacteria and 11 viruses. RESULTS: In all, 54% had evidence of bacterial pneumonia, and 32% had evidence of sole viral pneumonia. In 14% of the cases the etiology could not be determined. Children with bacterial pneumonia had significantly higher PCT (median 2.09 ng/ml vs. 0.56 ng/ml, P = 0.019) and CRP concentrations (96 mg/l vs. 54 mg/l, P = 0.008) than those with sole viral etiology. However, the values markedly overlapped. No significant difference in IL-6 concentrations was seen between the two patient groups. Using PCT > or = 2.0 ng/ml, CRP > or = 150 mg/l or IL-6 > or = 40 pg/ml, the specificity was > or =80% for bacterial pneumonia. The sensitivities with these cutoff values were 50% for PCT, 31% for CRP and 34% for IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the measurement of serum PCT, CRP and IL-6 has little value in the differentiation of bacterial and viral pneumonia in children. However, in some patients with very high serum PCT, CRP or IL-6 values, bacterial pneumonia is probable.     

Serum cortisol levels in children with acute bacterial and aseptic meningitis.

OBJECTIVE: To study serum cortisol levels in acute childhood meningitis with respect to the severity of illness and the outcome. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Pediatric services of a tertiary care teaching and referral hospital. SUBJECTS: A total of 30 consecutive children, 2 months to 12 yrs of age, with suspected bacterial meningitis. METHODS: Serum cortisol levels (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) obtained at admission were correlated with clinical characteristics (including Glasgow Coma Scale and Pediatric Risk of Mortality scores) recorded at admission and with neurologic and hearing status 2 months after discharge using SPSS 10.0. RESULTS: Mean +/- sd serum cortisol was 467 +/- 251 ng/dL in patients with bacterial (n = 16) and 319 +/- 159 ng/dL in aseptic meningitis (n = 14, p = .068). Glasgow coma scale score, systolic blood pressure, age, Pediatric Risk of Mortality, and cerebrospinal fluid protein were significant independent predictors of serum cortisol on stepwise multivariate regression analysis (each had an R change of >5%). Patients with neurologic or hearing sequelae had significantly higher median serum cortisol (450 ng/mL, n = 12) than those without sequelae (300 ng/mL, n = 17; p = .043 by Mann-Whitney U test). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, a serum cortisol of >/=420 ng/mL (odds ratio, 0.022; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.43) and systolic blood pressure (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.74) were significant independent predictors of neurologic and hearing sequelae. CONCLUSION: Low serum cortisol is uncommon in acute bacterial meningitis of nonmeningococcal pathogenesis. Very high levels are likely to be associated with sequelae.     

Comparison of procalcitonin with interleukin 8, C-reactive protein and differential white blood cell count for the early diagnosis of bacterial infections in newborn infants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate procalcitonin (PCT) as a test for early diagnosis of bacterial infections (BI) in newborn infants and to compare the results of PCT with those of interleukin 8 (IL-8), C-reactive protein (CRP) and differential white blood cell count. STUDY DESIGN: PCT was prospectively measured along with IL-8, CRP and differential white blood cell counts and blood cultures in 197 newborn infants at the first suspicion of bacterial infection. PCT, IL-8, CRP and differential white blood cell counts were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values after receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for best thresholds. The kinetics of PCT was determined in infants with and without BI. RESULTS: Forty-six infants were diagnosed clinically as having BI, of whom 9 had BI with positive blood cultures. At a cutoff value of 0.50 microg/l, PCT detected combined culture-proved and clinical BI with a sensitivity of 57% (95% confidence interval, 41%, 71%) and a specificity of 66% (95% confidence interval, 57%, 74%). The combination of IL-8 > or =70 ng/l and/or CRP >10 mg/l achieved a sensitivity of 91% (95% confidence interval, 79%, 98%) and a specificity of 73% (95% confidence interval, 64%, 81%). PCT values of infected and not infected infants tended to rise for 24 h after initial evaluation and then decreased. CONCLUSION: The combination of IL-8 and CRP is more reliable than PCT as a test for early diagnosis of BI in newborn infants.