Markers of bacteremia in febrile neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies: procalcitonin and IL-6 are more reliable than C-reactive protein

Since neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies are at high risk of contracting life-threatening infections, specific markers of infection are needed in cases of febrile neutropenia. The study presented here assessed serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in samples obtained from 31 febrile neutropenic patients. A total of 53 episodes were evaluated, and 18 of these were associated with positive blood culture results. Procalcitonin and IL-6 concentrations differed significantly between bacteremic and non-bacteremic episodes. Procalcitonin values were 0.22 ng/ml [interquartile range (IR), 0.15–1.9] for patients with pneumonia without bacteremia, 0.22 ng/ml (IR, 0.16–0.55) for patients with fever of unknown origin, 0.2 ng/ml (IR, 0.13–0.57) for patients with non-microbial fever and 1.8 ng/ml (IR, 0.35–5.3) for patients with bacteremia. The differences between bacteremic and non-bacteremic episodes had a P-value of 0.003 using the Mann–Whitney test. For IL-6 the median values were 301 pg/ml (IR, 152–1,879) for patients with pneumonia without bacteremia, 207 pg/ml (IR, 94–445) for patients with fever of unknown origin, 177 pg/ml (IR, 142–208) for patients with non-microbial fever and 942 pg/ml (IR, 181–2,807) for patients with bacteremia. Using the Mann–Whitney test, the differences between bacteremic and non-bacteremic episodes were P=0.006. No differences were found in CRP concentrations. Cutoff levels to distinguish between bacteremic and non-bacteremic episodes were chosen using receiver operating characteristic curves: 0.62 ng/ml for PCT and 297 pg/ml for IL-6. Negative predictive values were 84% for PCT and 70% for IL-6. The results indicate that PCT and IL-6 are more reliable markers than CRP for predicting bacteremia in patients with febrile neutropenia.     

Reduction of systemic fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies,neutropenia, and prolonged fever by early amphotericin B therapy

Summary A rate on autopsy of up to 30% systemic fungal infections and difficulties in diagnosing systemic mycosis antemortem have led to the empiric use of amphotericin B in patients with hematological malignancies, prolonged fever, and neutropenia. Routine empiric antifungal treatment was initiated in our institution in 1982. Amphotericin B was given to granulocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies with (a) unremitting fever after 48–72 h of antibiotic treatment, (b) recurrent fever during antibiotic treatment, or (c) with newly detected pulmonary infiltrates, sinusitis, skin and retinal lesions suggestive of a fungal infection. With this approach the rate of systemic fungal infections decreased significantly from 10% (27 of 270 patients; 1973–1981) to 4% (6 of 153 patients; 1982–1986,P<0.02). The reduction of systemic fungal infections was most prominent in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, where its proportion decreased from 16% (16 of 98 patients; 1973–1981) to 4% (2 of 50 patients; 1982–1986,P<0.023). Our data support the hypothesis that the incidence of systemic fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies and especially in acute myelogenous leukemia can be reduced significantly by empirical treatment with amphotericin B.     

C-reactive protein in the diagnosis and management of infections in granulocytopenic and non-granulocytopenic patients

The serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were assayed in 64 non-granulocytopenic and 35 granulocytopenic patients with or without fever and infection. Most patients showed a direct CRP response within 24 hours after onset of fever (95 % of non-granulocytopenic patients, 100 % of granulocytopenic patients). The mean peak level of CRP in febrile patients with septicemia was 207 mg/l (median 214 mg/l) in non-granulocytopenic patients and 173 mg/l (median 168 mg/l) in granulocytopenic patients, and differed significantly (p<0.001) from that in febrile patients without positive blood cultures. A significant difference between patients with major and minor infections was also found (p<0.01). No significant difference in the CRP level was found between patients with microbiologically and clinically documented infections (p>0.05), nor did the serum CRP levels differ between patients with infections due to gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. The most favorable cut-off limit for detection of an inflammatory process in this study was 25 mg/l. There was no quantitative difference between CRP levels measured by a latex-agglutination method and the nephelometry assay.     

Modulation of the systemic inflammatory response by recombinant human interleukin-11: a prospective randomized placebo controlled clinical study in patients with hematological malignancy

The immunomodulatory activities of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) were investigated in a clinical trial among patients with hematological malignancy, randomized to either rhIL-11 or placebo throughout chemotherapy. Daily serum concentrations of sTNFRI, IL-6, IL-8, TNFalpha, and CRP were measured. Higher sTNFRI levels [mean pg/ml (95% CI)] were detected in patients receiving rhIL-11 compared to placebo [1749.7 (1626-1882.9) versus 1038.5 (953.3-1131.3)] respectively (P = 0.01) for all 898 observations and during febrile days [2327.6 (2142.6-2528.2) versus 1308.9 (1163-1473.2), P = 0.12] and during days without infection [1406.6 (1266.1-1563) versus 871.3 (774.9-979.6), P < 0.001]. A similar pattern in CRP concentrations was observed. Multivariate analysis indicated rhIL-11 was associated with elevated sTNFRI or CRP independent of infectious episodes and other factors. 7 patients (all receiving placebo) of 40 had elevated TNFalpha levels. IL-6 and IL-8 levels were not substantially affected by rhIL-11. Bacteremia, fungal infections, and fever of unknown origin (FUO) were reduced in rhIL-11-treated patients. Given the role of sTNFRI in dampening the deleterious effects of a hyperactive TNFalpha environment, rhIL-11-induced upregulation of sTNFRI shedding is a potentially important mechanism for modulating immune and inflammatory responses in humans.     

Diagnostic value of neopterin during neutropenic fever and determination of disease activity in childhood leukemias

Neopterin, a pteridine group compound that is secreted from macrophages is shown to be increased in adult leukemia; however there are few studies in childhood leukemia. This study aimed to investigate neopterin levels during childhood leukemia treatment and neutropenic fever episodes for the possibility of using as a marker for disease activity and differentiation of infections. A total of 44 children with acute leukemia, 19 children with infection (control group 1) and 21 healthy children (control group 2) were studied. Median serum neopterin level before induction chemotherapy (day 0) in 25 children (patient group 1) was significantly higher (27.7 nmol/L) than those at the beginning of 30 febrile episodes in 19 children in bone marrow remission (2.2 nmol/L) (patient group 2) and in control group 2 (0.4 nmol/L) (p< 0.05). It was (27.7 nmol/L) also significantly higher in control group 1 than in patient group 2 and control group 2 (p< 0.05). Serum neopterin levels at day 15 (2.1 mmol/L) and day 33 (0.4 mmol/L) of induction were significantly lower than day 0 of ALL subgroup at patient group 1. There were no significant difference in neopterin levels between days 0, 3 and 5 of neutropenic fever as well as between patients with microbiologically and/or clinically documented infections and those with fever of unknown origin in patient group 2 (p> 0.05). Serum neopterin did not show significant correlation with absolute neutrophil count and absolute monocyte count (p> 0.05). In conclusion, elevated neopterin at diagnosis of leukemia with decrement during induction therapy suggest that it might be an indicator of leukemic process; however larger studies for its role in identifying infections are warranted.     

Is there a negative correlation between malignancy and respiratory atopy?

A history of respiratory atopy (seasonal hay fever or asthma) was sought among 218 patients with malignancy of endodermal origin (lung, gut, bladder, prostate), 104 patients with mesodermal malignancy (hematological, sarcomas, genitourinary system), 70 patients with ectodermal malignancy (skin and breast) and 303 age and sex matched controls. There was a significantly lower frequency of respiratory allergy in patients with endodermal malignancy when compared with their matched controls (6.4% compared to 13.2%, p less than 0.005). There were no significant differences among any of the other groups. Patients with respiratory atopy appeared to have some degree of protection against developing malignancies of endodermal origin. This may relate to immunologic factors, an inherent difference in the endodermal cell layer in atopic individuals or as yet undertermined factors.     

Infectious complications in patients undergoing unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation: experience from a single institution

Objective   To analyze the incidence and characteristics of documented infections in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation (UD-BMT).
Methods   We studied the occurrence of infections in 22 patients with hematologic malignancies or severe aplastic anemia who underwent UD-BMT from April 1990 to December 2000. The median age was 26 years (range 13–46). Acyclovir–ganciclovir, co-trimoxazole, fluconazole–nystatin and ciprofloxacin were administered for anti-infectious prophylaxis.
Results   We registered 61 infectious episodes. During the early post-transplant period, there were eight clinically documented infections (CDIs), four cases of fever of unknown origin (FUO), seven cases of bacteremia, two cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia, and one case of CMV disease. In the intermediate period (days 30–100 after BMT), there were nine cases of CMV antigenemia, three bacterial infections, two fungal infections, one case of disseminated toxoplasmosis, and one case of FUO. In the late period (day 100 and later), we documented 13 viral infections, eight bacterial infections, one CDI, and one case of invasive aspergillosis. Infections contributed to death in 10 of 17 patients. Citrobacter bacteremia and sepsis of unknown origin were the main causes of infectious mortality in the early period. Infection was the main cause of death in six of seven patients in the late period.
Conclusion   A high incidence of life-threatening infections and infection-related mortality was observed. A high rate of CMV infection in the early period, and death caused by multiresistant Gram-negative microorganisms in the late period, were the main findings in this series.     

Studies on the role of leukocytes in the activation of intravascular coagulation in septicemia

To elucidate the role of leukocytes in intravascular clotting in patients with septicemia, plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), soluble fibrin monomer complex (SFMC) and fibrinogen (Fbg) were determined in 33 patients with septicemia. Twenty out of 33 patients revealed a marked leukopenia (leukocyte count was less than 1,000/microliters) due to suppression of hematopoiesis by the administration of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Thirteen out of 33 patients showed normal or increased leukocyte counts. Plasma levels of TAT and SFMC in septicemic patients with leukopenia were significantly lower than those in patients whose leukocyte counts were higher than 1,000/microliters. Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly lower in patients whose leukocyte counts were higher than 1,000/microliters than those in patients with leukopenia. Plasma TAT levels were found to correlate well with the number of leukocytes in these patients with the correlation coefficient (R) of 0.67 (p less than 0.001). Significantly high positive correlation was observed between plasma TAT levels and the number of monocytes (R = 0.92, p less than 0.001). Significant correlation was also observed between plasma SFMC levels and the number of monocytes (R = 0.72, p less than 0.001). No significant correlation was found between the number of platelets and TAT levels. These findings suggest that leukocytes (especially monocytes) play a critical role in activating intravascular coagulation in septicemic patients.     

The impact of oral herpes simplex virus infection and candidiasis on chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis among patients with hematological malignancies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influences of oral candidiasis and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infections in chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (OM). The medical records of 424 consecutive patients with hematological malignancies who had received chemotherapy at a medical center in Taiwan from January 2006 to November 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. The results of swab cultures of fungus and HSV-1 for OM were correlated with associated clinical features. Younger age, myeloid malignancies, and disease status other than complete remission before chemotherapy were significantly correlated with the development of OM. Risks of fever (p <0.001) and bacteremia were higher in patients with OM. Among 467 episodes of OM with both swab cultures available, 221 were non-infection (47.3%) and 246 were related to either fungal infections, HSV-1 infections, or both (52.7%); of the 246 episodes, 102 were associated with fungal infections alone (21.8%), 98 with HSV-1 infections alone (21%), and 46 with both infections (9.9%). Patients who had received antifungal agents prior to OM occurrence tended to have HSV-1 infection (p <0.001). Our results suggest that Candida albicans and HSV-1 play an important role in chemotherapy-induced OM in patients with hematological malignancies.     

恶性血液肿瘤患者化疗后粒缺期合并感染患者超敏C反应蛋白、降钙素原水平研究

目的 探讨恶性血液肿瘤患者化疗后粒细胞缺乏期合并感染患者降钙素原(PCT)、血清超敏C-反应蛋白(hs-CRP)水平变化,为恶性血液肿瘤合并感染患者临床治疗提供理论参考.方法 选取144例恶性血液病患者作为研究对象,根据是否合并感染分为感染组和非感染组,各72例,比较两组患者在化疗前后,抗感染治疗前后hs-CRP、PCT水平变化.结果 感染组患者hs-CRP、PCT水平高于非感染组(P<0.05),化疗后粒缺期发热组患者经抗感染治疗后血清hs-CRP、PCT均明显下降,治疗前后hs-CRP、PCT差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);T2粒缺期合并发热患者血清hs-CRP、PCT水平高于T1,T3经抗感染治疗后血清hs-CRP、PCT水平低于T2,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);联合检测hs-CRP、PCT水平的灵敏度、特异性、阳性预测值均高于单一的hs-CRP、PCT检测,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 恶性血液肿瘤患者化疗后粒缺期合并感染患者超敏C反应蛋白、降钙素原水平显著上升,经抗感染治疗后下降;采用hs-CRP、PCT联合检测对于化疗后粒缺期感染的诊断具有临床价值.     

血清降钙素原与C-反应蛋白联合检测在肝硬化并肺部感染患者中的诊断价值

目的 探讨血清降钙素原(procalcitonin,PCT)与C-反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)联合检测在肝硬化并肺部感染患者中的诊断价值及临床意义.方法 选取2014年8月至2016年5月在本院入院治疗的肝硬化并肺部感染患者83例作为研究对象,根据病原学检测结果将其分为肝硬化细菌致肺部感染组(观察组)42例与肝硬化非细菌致感染组(对照组)41例,另选本院同期进行体检健康者40例作为健康组,检测并记录各组PCT、CRP,并采用SPSS21.0软件对所得数据进行处理.结果 治疗前观察组PCT水平均显著高于对照组和健康组,差异具有统计学意义(均P＜0.05);治疗后观察组PCT水平略高于对照组,差异不具有统计学意义(t=1.524,P＞0.05);观察组治疗后PCT水平显著低于治疗前,差异具有统计学意义(t=11.291,P ＜0.05);对照组治疗后PCT水平略高于治疗前,差异不具有统计学意义(t=0.928,P＞0.05).治疗前观察组CRP水平均显著高于对照组和健康组,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05);治疗后观察组CRP水平与对照组相比差异不具有统计学意义(t=0.825,P ＞0.05);观察组治疗后CRP水平显著低于治疗前,差异具有统计学意义(t =6.032,P＜0.05);对照组治疗后CRP水平略高于治疗前,差异不具有统计学意义(t=1.853,P＞0.05).观察组患者PCT、CRP单独检测以及PCT、CRP联合检测的阳性检出率均显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(t值依次为8.517、14.624、5.433,均P＜0.05).PCT、CRP联合检测的特异性、灵敏度、阳性预测值与阴性预测值均显著高于PCT、CRP单独检测,差异具有统计学意义(均P ＜0.05).结论 肝硬化患者存在肺部感染风险,通过对肝硬化患者进行血清PCT与CRP联合检测,对肺部感染疾病的早期鉴别诊断具有积极意义.     

Serum procalcitonin for differentiating bacterial infection from disease flares in patients with autoimmune diseases

Early differentiation between bacterial infections and disease flares in autoimmune disease patients is important due to different treatments. Seventy-nine autoimmune disease patients with symptoms suggestive of infections or disease flares were collected by retrospective chart review. The patients were later classified into two groups, disease flare and infection. C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels were measured. The CRP and PCT levels were higher in the infection group than the disease flare group (CRP,11.96 mg/dL ± 9.60 vs 6.42 mg/dL ± 7.01, P = 0.003; PCT, 2.44 ng/mL ± 6.55 vs 0.09 ng/mL ± 0.09, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC; 95% confidence interval) for CRP and PCT was 0.70 (0.58-0.82) and 0.84 (0.75-0.93), which showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The predicted AUC for the CRP and PCT levels combined was 0.83, which was not significantly different compared to the PCT level alone (P = 0.80). The best cut-off value for CRP was 7.18 mg/dL, with a sensitivity of 71.9% and a specificity of 68.1%. The best cut-off value for PCT was 0.09 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 78.7%. The PCT level had better sensitivity and specificity compared to the CRP level in distinguishing between bacterial infections and disease flares in autoimmune disease patients. The CRP level has no additive value when combined with the PCT level when differentiating bacterial infections from disease flares.     

Comparison of two schedules of cefoperazone plus aztreonam in the treatment of neutropenic patients with fever

Cancer patients were randomized to receive an every 4 hour or every 8 hour schedule of cefoperazone plus aztreonam during 617 febrile episodes. The overall response rate for the 478 evaluable episodes was 76 % and there was no difference in response rate between the two schedules. The response rate was 79 % for cases of pneumonia and 63 % for cases of bacteremia. Only 50 % of the microbiologically documented infections caused by gram-positive organisms responded whereas 95 % of gram-negative infections, including all of those caused byPseudomonas aeruginosa, responded. Response rates were lower among patients whose neutrophil counts decreased during therapy than among those whose neutrophil counts increased (64 % vs. 85 %, p=0.008). Side-effects that were possibly or probably related to antibiotic therapy were observed during 11 % of the episodes. The most common side-effects were diarrhea and rashes including one case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Three patients developed a coagulopathy during therapy. Cefoperazone plus aztreonam proved to be an effective combination for treatment of gram-negative infections and fever of unknown origin in cancer patients and an every 8-hour schedule of administration was as effective as an every 4-hour schedule. Approximately half of the patients with gram-positive infections required additional antibiotics for successful therapy.     

Dynamics of serum procalcitonin in patients after major neurosurgery

Classical markers of infection cannot differentiate reliably between inflammation and infection after neurosurgery. This study investigated the dynamics of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in patients following major neurosurgery. PCT concentrations remained < 0.2 ng/mL during the post-operative course. In contrast, leukocyte and neutrophil counts, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, increased significantly post-operatively (leukocytes, range 7.1-23.7 x 10(9)/L, p < 0.001; neutrophils, range 70.8-94.5%, p < 0.001; CRP, median 14 mg/L, range 3-95 mg/L, p < 0.001). Analysis of PCT levels using assays with improved sensitivity may be useful in the diagnosis of neurosurgical patients with post-operative fever of unknown origin.     

AMI患者血浆BNP,ET,CRP,ANP水平变化与临床观察分析

目的 :观察急性心肌梗死 (AMI)患者血浆中脑钠肽、内皮素、C -反应蛋白、心钠素水平变化 ,探讨AMI发病机制 ,为其诊断、治疗及预后判断提供依据。方法 :应用免疫放射分析及酶联免疫分析的方法对 4 6例AMI患者治疗前后和 30例正常对照者血浆中的BNP、ET、CRP、ANP水平进行检测。结果 :AMI患者血浆中BNP、ET、CRP、ANP治疗前后比较有显著性差异 (p <0 0 0 1 ) ,正常对照组与AMI治疗前比较有显著性差异 (p <0 0 0 1 ) ,BNP与CRP在AMI治疗前水平变化比较呈正相关 (r=0 874 ) ,治疗后呈明显的下降趋势其相关系数为(r=0 6 5 4 ) ,AMI治疗前后ANP与ET比较呈正相关 ,但AMI经溶栓和相应的支持治疗后ANP水平基本恢复到正常水平 (p >0 0 5 ) ,而BNP、ET、CRP水平虽然下降明显 ,但与正常组比较仍有明显差异 (p <0 0 5 )。结论 :AMI血浆中BNP、ANP、ET、CRP水平的变化说明其参与了急性心肌梗死发生、发展 ,特别是冠状动脉粥样斑块的形成和 (或 )破裂及血栓形成 ,其炎症因子是主要因素。因此 ,四项指标的观察分析对AMI诊断、治疗、预后判断具有重要意义。     

Enterococcal septicemia in patients with hematological malignancies

Thirty-six cases of enterococcal septicemia in patients with hematological malignancies were reviewed retrospectively and categorized according to their clinical significance using strict previously described definitions. Overall, most of the infected patients were males (77 %), had acute leukemia (64 %), had recently received cytotoxic drug therapy (86 %), were granulocytopenic at the onset of septicemia (77 %), and acquired the infection during hospitalization (77 %). The source of septicemia was unknown in 18 (50 %) patients, intestinal in 15 (42 %) and intravascular in three (8 %). Mortality was 19 % among 21 inpatients who had clinically significant septicemia and 30 % among patients with septicemia of uncertain clinical significance. The fatal outcome could be definitively attributed to enterococcal septicemia in only one of the nine inpatients who died. Clinically significant septicemia appeared somewhat more frequently to be polymicrobial (p=0.06), whereas septicemia of unknown significance presented more frequently as breakthrough septicemia (p=0.013). Unless associated with intravascular infection, enterococcal septicemia in patients with hematological malignancies seems to represent a marker of cytotoxic drug damage of the intestinal mucosa rather than a truly invasive infection.     

Analysis of C-reactive protein and biochemical parameters in pericardial fluid

This study was designed to examine the relationship between pericardial fluid and plasma CRP levels, and to alterations in other biochemical parameters in patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The study group consisted of 96 Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients who were referred to our clinic for a CABG procedure and from whom sufficient amount of pericardial fluid could be collected. The patients were classified into 3 groups: Stable Angina Pectoris (SAP) (n=27), Unstable Angina Pectoris (USAP) (n=36), and Post-Myocardial Infarction (PMI) (n=33). Levels of CRP, glucose, albumin, total protein, Creatine Kinase (CK), Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB), and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in pericardial fluid samples and in simultaneously collected blood samples from radial artery. The pericardial CRP and LDH levels in the PMI group were higher than in the SAP (p=0.015 and p=0.000, respectively) and USAP (p=0.011, p=0.047) groups. Serum CRP levels in USAP (p=0.014) and PMI (p= 0.000) groups were higher than those in the SAP group. Pericardial albumin levels in the PMI group were higher than in the USAP group (p=0.038). In all groups, the pericardial fluid/serum protein ratio was > 0.5, the LDL ratio was > 0.6, and pericardial fluid LDH concentrations were > 300 mg/dl. CRP level of pericardial fluid was significantly higher in the PMI group than in other groups. However, pericardial fluid LDH levels were higher than blood LDH levels in this group and were also higher than pericardial fluid LDH levels of other groups.     

Evaluation of penicillin G in the prevention of streptococcal septicaemia in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy

The efficacy of penicillin G was evaluated in the prevention of infections caused by streptococci in patients receiving remission induction or intensive consolidation treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia. Between 1980 and 1988, 29 episodes of streptococcal septicaemia occurred in 139 treatment events. All patients received as prophylaxis regimen ciprofloxacin (n=38) or a combination of polymyxin B with nalidixic acid (n=42) or neomycin (n=59). Six patients died of streptococcal septicaemia despite adequate antibiotic treatment. The high incidence of streptococcal septicaemia lead to the administration of penicillin G in addition to ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis regimen during the 14 days immediately following cytotoxic chemotherapy. Only two episodes of streptococcal septicaemia were documented after addition of penicillin G to the prophylaxis regimen (n=76, p<0.001). Both patients had an uneventful recovery after treatment with vancomycin. Patients receiving penicillin G prophylaxis experienced fever during 17 % of the time and received antimicrobial therapy during 20 % of the time per treatment event compared with 27 % and 32 % respectively of this time in patients receiving no streptococcal prophylaxis (p<0.001). Penicillin G prophylaxis was associated with an increased incidence of fever of unknown origin and more frequent isolation of aerobic gram-negative bacteria in surveillance cultures. Penicillin G in combination with ciprofloxacin proved to be highly successful in preventing infections caused by streptococci and in reducing infection-related mortality and morbidity.     

CRP检测在妊娠合并急性泌尿系感染中作用探讨

目的探讨CRP在妊娠合并急性泌尿系感染中的作用。方法检测2005年6月～2006年6月32例妊娠合并急性泌尿系感染病例的CRP。其中妊娠合并急性肾孟肾炎和妊娠合并急性膀胱炎各16例。选择同期16例健康孕妇作对照组，采用免疫比浊法检测CRP（用Twbox Plus检测仪）。结果妊娠合并急性肾孟肾炎治疗前发热天数与CRP值正相关（r^2=0．528 P＜0．01）。CRP为40mg／L时，诊断急性肾孟肾炎敏感性为0．92，特异性为0．97。妊娠合并急性肾孟肾炎CRP平均值为78mg／L，急性膀胱炎组CRP值仅为10mg／L，正常孕妇CRP平均值为6mg／L。急性肾孟肾炎组明显高于急性膀胱炎组，差异有极显著性（P＜0．01）。结论CRP是妊娠合并急性肾孟肾炎病情观察的指标，CRP值与患者治疗前发热时间长短有关。在鉴别妊娠合并急性肾孟肾炎和急性膀胱炎中，CRP是一个特异性和敏感性较好的指标。     

Group A streptococcal antibodies in subjects with or without rheumatic fever in areas with high or low incidences of rheumatic fever

The levels of streptococcal antibody titers in populations with or without rheumatic fever from an area with a relatively high incidence of rheumatic fever and an area with a low incidence of this disease were compared. Streptococcal antibody titers were determined for two populations, each of which included children without rheumatic fever (nonrheumatic children) and rheumatic fever patients. The two populations were derived from two separate geographic areas, one with a high incidence of rheumatic fever (Grenada) and another with a low incidence of this disease (central Florida). The results revealed an absence of consistent differences in the geometric mean antibody titers between the nonrheumatic subjects and the rheumatic fever patients from Grenada. In the population from Grenada, the mean anti-streptolysin O and anti-DNase B titers were higher in the nonrheumatic controls (P of 0.085 and 0.029, respectively). However, the mean titer of the antibody to the group A streptococcal cell wall carbohydrate was higher in the rheumatic fever patients than in the nonrheumatic controls (P = 0.047). This finding contrasted with the finding that the means of all three streptococcal antibody titers in the patients with rheumatic fever were significantly higher than those in the nonrheumatic subjects from Florida (P = 0.01-<0.001). The reason for this paradoxical finding became evident when the streptococcal antibody titers of the nonrheumatic subjects from Grenada and Florida were compared, revealing significantly higher levels of all three antibodies in the nonrheumatic subjects from Grenada than in the nonrheumatic subjects from Florida (P < 0.001). These results suggest that nonrheumatic individuals in an area with a high incidence of rheumatic fever have inordinately elevated levels of streptococcal antibodies in serum. The presence of elevated streptococcal antibody titers in such a population, which probably reflects a high background prevalence of streptococcal infections, should be taken into consideration when evaluating the role of the group A streptococcus in nonpurulent complications of infections.