Oxidant and antioxidant parameters in the treatment of meningitis

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of meningitis treatment on the serum and cerebrospinal-fluid oxidant and antioxidant status in children with bacterial meningitis. Forty children with bacterial meningitis, at ages ranging from 4 months to 12 years (mean age, 4 years), were enrolled in the study. Within 8 hours after admission (before treatment) and 10 days after clinical and laboratory indications of recovery (after treatment), cerebrospinal fluid and venous blood were collected. Thirty-seven healthy children (mean age, 4 years) were enrolled as control subjects, and only venous blood was collected. Serum total oxidant status, lipid hydroperoxide, oxidative stress index, uric acid, albumin, and ceruloplasmin levels were lower in the patient group after treatment (P<0.05). Serum total antioxidant capacity levels, vitamin C, total bilirubin, and catalase concentrations were not significantly altered by treatment (P>0.05). However, cerebrospinal fluid total oxidant status, lipid hydroperoxide, and oxidative stress index levels were higher, and cerebrospinal fluid total antioxidant capacity levels were lower after treatment than before treatment (P<0.05). In conclusion, we demonstrated that serum oxidative stress was lower, and cerebrospinal fluid oxidative stress was higher, after rather than before treatment in children with bacterial meningitis.     

TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the diagnosis of bacterial and aseptic meningitis in children

The objective of this study was to analyze the usefulness of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 cerebrospinal fluid concentrations for the differential diagnosis between bacterial and aseptic meningitis in children and in the prognostic evaluation. A cross-sectional study was performed on 35 children between 1 month and 12 years of age with suspected meningitis. Cytokines determination was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The Mann-Whitney test and Spearman's correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis. Six children presented bacterial meningitis, 13 aseptic, and 16 had no meningitis. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were significantly higher in the bacterial meningitis group as compared with the aseptic group (P = 0.001) and among groups with and without meningitis (P = 0.000). There was correlation between tumor necrosis factor-alpha and cerebrospinal fluid leukocytes (P = 0.019), protein (P = 0.000), and glucose (P = 0.038). There was no association between cytokines and complications of the meningitis. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid were useful markers for distinguishing bacterial from aseptic meningitis and were demonstrated to be useful in evaluating the intensity of the inflammatory process in the central nervous system.     

Fluorescence method of evaluation of the lysosomes of the lymphoid cells of the cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis and meningism

The fluorescence method of Blume et al. was found to be useful for identification and morphological evaluation of lysosomes in cerebrospinal fluid cells. The investigations were carried out in 49 patients with viral and bacterial meningitis or meningismus. It was demonstrated that the CSF cells in most patients with purulent meningitis contained no fluorescent granules in an early stage of the disease before introduction of antibacterial therapy. These granules were found in CSF cells in cases of leptospirosis, viral meningitis and meningismus of various aetiology in acute stage of the disease and even in convalescence, and in purulent meningitis in convalescence. In bacterial meningitis large lysosomal granules were observed, and in viral meningitis these granules were small. The method visualizes easily bacteria (meningococci and pneumococci) in the cerebrospinal fluid.     

儿童细菌性脑膜炎与病毒性脑炎氧化应激水平的变化及意义

目的观察儿童细菌性脑膜炎与病毒性脑炎氧化应激水平的变化。方法选取病毒性脑炎患儿20例,细菌性脑膜炎20例,细菌性脑膜炎患儿按临床评分分为重症组及轻症组。选取20例无中枢神经系统感染儿童为对照组。于治疗前及治疗10 d后测定脑脊液丙二醛(MDA)及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)水平。结果治疗前细菌性脑膜炎患儿脑脊液中SOD水平明显低于对照组与病毒性脑炎患儿,治疗后SOD水平较治疗前增加,但仍低于对照组,且SOD水平与疾病严重程度相关,重症患儿SOD水平较轻症患儿降低。细菌性脑膜炎患儿脑脊液中MDA水平明显高于对照组与病毒性脑炎患儿,治疗后MDA水平较治疗前降低,但仍高于对照组,且MDA水平与疾病严重程度相关,重症患儿MDA水平较轻症患儿增高。病毒性脑炎患儿脑脊液SOD、MDA水平与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论细菌性脑膜炎患儿存在氧化应激,脑脊液SOD与MDA水平有助于细菌性脑膜炎的早期诊断及病情严重程度的判定。     

Brief Clinical Report: EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE BACTERIAL MENINGITIS AND ENCEPHALITIS

Antioxidant status was investigated in children with acute bacterial meningitis and encephalitis to investigate the possible role of free radicals in children with meningitis and encephalitis. Our study included 16 children with acute bacterial meningitis, 13 with encephalitis, and 17 control subjects. Serum ceruloplasmin, uric acid, albumin, bilirubin superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were studied in all subjects within 6 h of admission. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for all parameters except for serum uric acid. All antioxidant activities except for albumin level were increased in the study groups. Albumin level was higher in the control group than those of meningitis and encephalitis groups. When the values of meningitis and encephalitis were compared, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups for serum SOD, GPx, ceruloplasmin, and albumin. In conclusion, our study showed that serum SOD, GPx, catalase, and ceruloplasmin were higher in children with acute bacterial meningitis and serum SOD, GPx, catalase, ceruloplasmin, and total bilirubin levels were increased in children with encephalitis. These findings suggest that antioxidant status was almost similar in both acute bacterial meningitis and encephalitis conditions in childhood     

Evaluation of antioxidant status in children with acute bacterial meningitis and encephalitis

Antioxidant status was investigated in children with acute bacterial meningitis and encephalitis to investigate the possible role of free radicals in children with meningitis and encephalitis. Our study included 16 children with acute bacterial meningitis, 13 with encephalitis, and 17 control subjects. Serum ceruloplasmin, uric acid, albumin, bilirubin superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were studied in all subjects within 6 h of admission. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for all parameters except for serum uric acid. All antioxidant activities except for albumin level were increased in the study groups. Albumin level was higher in the control group than those of meningitis and encephalitis groups. When the values of meningitis and encephalitis were compared, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups for serum SOD, GPx, ceruloplasmin, and albumin. In conclusion, our study showed that serum SOD, GPx, catalase, and ceruloplasmin were higher in children with acute bacterial meningitis and serum SOD, GPx, catalase, ceruloplasmin, and total bilirubin levels were increased in children with encephalitis. These findings suggest that antioxidant status was almost similar in both acute bacterial meningitis and encephalitis conditions in childhood.     

Cerebrospinal Fluid TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in Children With Bacterial Meningitis

ObjectiveWe evaluated the levels of cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 in bacterial meningitis in children.MethodsThe study included children up to 14 years of age admitted to a pediatric ward with fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was based on clinical features: physical examination, blood and cerebrospinal fluid cytochemical findings, Gram stain, and bacterial culture. The cerebrospinal fluid levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 were measured in 57 children with bacterial meningitis, 15 with viral meningitis, and 15 controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods.ResultsThe mean concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 were 1108 ± 183, 652 ± 287, and 442 ± 120 pg/mL, respectively, in children with bacterial meningitis and were significantly increased in those in the viral meningitis group (tumor necrosis factor-α : 711 ± 105, IL-6 : 272 ± 161, IL-8 : 175 ± 62 pg/mL; P < 0.001) or control (390 ± 37, 59 ± 17, 19 ± 13 pg/mL, respectively, P < 0.001). At optimum cutoff level based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, cerebrospinal fluid cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8) showed sensitivity and specificity of 100% for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. For differentiation of bacterial from viral meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid level of tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, and IL-8 showed sensitivity and specificity of 94.7% and 86.7%, 80.7% and 53.3%, and 89.5% and 86.7%, respectively.ConclusionThe increased concentration of cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 in children with meningitis suggests a role in the pathogenesis of bacterial meningitis and these levels might prove to be useful in children whose diagnosis is in question.     

Cerebrospinal fluid Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolite levels in pediatric patients with central nervous system diseases

This study assessed the validity of cerebrospinal fluid oxidative status of pediatric patients with central nervous system diseases, using the Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolites test (d-Roms; Diacron International s.r.l.; Grosseto, Italy). Eighty-seven pediatric patients (8 with bacterial meningitis, 18 with aseptic meningitis, 23 with febrile seizures, 6 with rotavirus gastroenteritis-induced convulsions, 16 with epilepsy, 2 with adrenoleukodystrophy, 2 with multiple sclerosis, and 12 control subjects) were enrolled. An analysis of the infection-associated group (bacterial meningitis, aseptic meningitis, febrile seizures, and rotavirus gastroenteritis-induced convulsions) indicated that cerebrospinal fluid Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolite levels in the bacterial meningitis group were significantly higher than in other infection-associated groups. In the bacterial meningitis group, the cerebrospinal fluid Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolite levels obtained after improvement were significantly decreased compared with pre-improvement values. In the noninfection-associated group (epilepsy, adrenoleukodystrophy, and multiple sclerosis), the cerebrospinal fluid Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolite levels in symptomatic epilepsy patients were higher than in cryptogenic epilepsy patients and control subjects, but not significantly. Progressive patients with adrenoleukodystrophy or multiple sclerosis demonstrated high Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolite levels compared with another early-stage adrenoleukodystrophy patient. Oxidative stress may be associated with the pathogenesis of various pediatric central nervous system diseases. Cerebrospinal fluid Diacron-Reactive Oxygen Metabolite levels may correlate with clinical status in these diseases.     

Brief clinical study: Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in children with acute purulent meningitis and encephalitis

In this study, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status were investigated in children with acute bacterial meningitis and encephalitis. The aim was to determine whether there was a possible role of free radicals in meningitis and encephalitis in childhood. Our study included 16 children with acute bacterial meningitis, 13 with encephalitis, and 17 control subjects. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and retinol levels were studied in all subjects within 6 h of admission. There was a statistically significant difference for serum MDA, GSH, and vitamin C between the groups. Serum MDA and vitamin C levels were higher, and serum GSH levels were lower in the study groups compared to the control group. Vitamin C levels were similar in both the encephalitis and control groups, but they were significantly lower in the children with encephalitis than the meningitis group. In conclusion, our study showed that serum MDA and GSH levels were affected in children with both meningitis and encephalitis, but vitamin C level was affected only in children with meningitis. Serum vitamin E, beta-carotene, and retinol levels were not changed in childhood meningitis and encephalitis.     

Diagnostic capability of CSF ferritin in children with meningitis

The current study was performed to determine the normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ferritin level according to age and cut-off value for early diagnosis of bacterial menignitis. The subjects (N = 203) consisted of children who received the CSF examination at Department of Pediatrics in Chonnam National University Hospital between May 1996 and July 2001. The subjects were classified into four groups; non-meningitis, viral meningitis, bacterial meningitis, and bacterial meningitis suspected group. CSF ferritin of the meningitis group was significantly higher than that of the non-meningitis or viral meningitis groups. CSF ferritin had positive correlation with white blood cell (WBC) count and protein in CSF but negative correlation with CSF glucose (P < 0.01). CSF ferritin decreased progressively up to 1 year but such a tendency was not evident in patients over 1 year in age in the non-meningitis group. For early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, 15.6 ng/mL was considered as the appropriate cut-off value of CSF ferritin (a sensitivity of 96.2% and a specificity of 96.6%).     

小儿化脓性脑膜炎脑脊液中HBP和VE-cadherin的水平变化及其对预后的预测价值

目的 探讨小儿化脓性脑膜炎脑脊液肝素结合蛋白(Heparin-binding protein,HBP)和血管内皮细胞钙黏蛋白(Vascular endothelial-cadherin,VE-cadherin)的水平变化及其对预后的预测价值。方法 选取2019年2月-2021年本院收治的化脓性脑膜炎患儿106例[(Purulent meningitis,PM)组]和病毒性脑炎患儿75例[(Vascular endothelial,VE)组],同时选取60例在本院就诊的非感染性疾病患儿作为对照组; 比较3组患儿脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin水平变化; 将PM组患儿依据出院时格拉斯哥预后评分(Glasgow outcome scale,GOS)标准分为预后良好组和预后不良组,对比预后良好组和预后不良组患儿脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin水平以及其他可能的影响因素; 采用Logistic回归分析法明确影响化脓性脑膜炎患儿预后不良的危险因素; 绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线,分析脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin水平对化脓性脑膜炎患儿预后不良的预测价值。结果 入院第1 d PM组、VE组患儿脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin水平均高于对照组(P<0.05); PM组患儿脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin水平均高于VE组(P<0.05)。治疗后PM组与VE组患儿脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin水平均低于入院第1 d(P<0.05),但2组治疗7 d后比较无明显差异(P>0.05)。单因素分析显示,预后不良组休克、意识障碍、脑脊液细菌培养阳性的占比、脑脊液白细胞计数(White blood cell,WBC)、C-反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)、降钙素原(Procalcitonin,PCT)、HBP(入院第1 d与治疗7 d后)、VE-cadherin(入院第1 d与治疗7 d后)水平高于预后良好组(P<0.05)。经Logistic回归分析显示,休克、意识障碍、HBP(入院第1 d与治疗7 d后)、VE-cadherin(入院第1 d与治疗7 d后)水平均是化脓性脑膜炎患儿预后不良的危险因素(P<0.05)。受试者工作特征(Receiver operating characteristic,ROC)曲线分析显示,入院第1 d脑脊液HBP联合VE-cadherin水平预测化脓性脑膜炎患儿预后不良的灵敏度、准确度、曲线下面积(Areaunder the curve,AUC)分别为93.57%、92.16%、0.915,均高于脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin单独预测; 治疗7 d后脑脊液HBP联合VE-cadherin水平预测化脓性脑膜炎患儿预后不良的灵敏度、准确度、曲线下面积(AUC)分别为96.89%、95.71%、0.931,均高于脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin单独预测。结论 在化脓性脑膜炎患儿中脑脊液HBP,VE-cadherin水平异常升高,且是导致化脓性脑膜炎患儿预后不良的危险因素,对小儿化脓性脑膜炎的预后具有较高的预测价值。     

Toxocara infection is not associated with viral or bacterial central nervous system infection in children

BACKGROUND: Helminth infections with larvae that migrate through the tissues have been considered risk factors for CNS infections. OBJECTIVES: The present work was designed to investigate the prevalence of anti- TOXOCARA antibodies in the serum and/or in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with infectious meningitis or meningoencephalitis and of a control group, without meningitis, admitted at the Children's Hospital NS Glória, Vitória, ES, Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After adsorption with ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES antigen, serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid of 381 inpatients (201 with meningitis and 180 without meningitis) were submitted to an ELISA IgG, for anti- TOXOCARA antibodies using secretion/excretion antigens of third stage larvae of T. CANIS. RESULTS: No significant differences between the meningitis and the control groups were observed in the frequencies of positive tests for anti- TOXOCARA antibodies in the serum or CSF (respectively for the meningitis and control group: 33/103 or 32 % and 52/152 or 34.2 % for the serum, p = 0.821; 48/184 or 26.1 % and 23/121 or 19.0 % for the CSF; p = 0.196. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that TOXOCARA infection, evaluated by detection of anti- TOXOCARA antibodies in serum or CSF, is not associated with viral or bacterial meningitis or meningoencephalitis in children in our country.     

Ketamine increases opening cerebrospinal pressure in children undergoing lumbar puncture

Intravenous ketamine, often administered concomitantly with midazolam, is one of the most commonly used drugs for procedural sedation in children. Although it is considered safe for use in children, ketamine can increase intracranial pressure. Hence, this study was carried out to determine whether adding ketamine to midazolam prior to performing lumbar puncture would be associated with a higher cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in children with suspected aseptic meningitis. Thirty-nine children aged 6 months to 14 years were included: 26 in group A (intravenous midazolam plus ketamine) and 13 in group B (intravenous midazolam only). Mean cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in group A was 24.4 cm H2O (median 23 cm H2O) compared with 20 cm H2O (median 19.8 cm H2O) in group B (P = .011). Intravenous ketamine prior to performing lumbar puncture is associated with a significantly higher lumbar cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in children with aseptic meningitis. However, no outcome differences have been found between the two groups.     

Neurotrophin-3 levels in cerebrospinal fluid from children with bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, or encephalitis

Neurotrophin-3 levels were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid of 35 patients with bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, or encephalitis by two-site enzyme immunoassay. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of neurotrophin-3 were demonstrated in 8 of 18 patients with bacterial meningitis. Follow-up examination of the eight patients at the convalescent stage showed diminished cerebrospinal fluid levels of neurotrophin-3. In contrast, none of the 17 patients with viral meningitis or encephalitis showed an elevation of neurotrophin-3 levels in cerebrospinal fluid. No relationships were observed between neurotrophin-3 levels and cerebrospinal fluid cell numbers, cerebrospinal fluid protein levels, serum C-reactive protein concentrations, or outcome in bacterial meningitis. Since neurotrophin-3 is involved in the survival of neurons and the modulation of the immune system, neurotrophin-3 could play a neuroprotective or immunomodulatory role in bacterial meningitis.     

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in cerebrospinal fluid of children with acute systemic or neurological illness

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase was analyzed in cerebrospinal fluid samples taken from children with a variety of neurological conditions (85 patients; mean age, 3.8 years) to determine it is involved in the defense mechanism against the toxic effect of inflammatory mediators in the central nervous system. A significant increase in cerebrospinal fluid activity was seen in the patients with meningitis and acute febrile illness in comparison with the control subjects. The activity was also significantly higher in the patients with meningitis than in the patients with inflammatory neurological diseases. In addition, the biochemical profile of cerebrospinal fluid platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase was different from other known acetylhydrolases. These findings suggest that cerebrospinal fluid platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity may be a sensitive marker of the host response to central nervous system infections.     

小儿急性细菌性脑膜炎患者C反应蛋白水平及临床意义

目的 检测小儿急性细菌性脑膜炎患者外周血和脑脊液中C反应蛋白(CRP)水平,并探讨其在疾病发展过程中的价值.方法 采集28例急性细菌性脑膜炎患儿和18例健康儿童外周血和脑脊液标本,检测CRP浓度,评价临床价值.结果 急性细菌性脑膜炎患儿外周血和脑脊液中CRP水平明显比对照组高(P < 0.05).经使用抗生素治疗后,急性细菌性脑膜炎患儿外周血和脑脊液中CRP水平显著下降(P < 0.05).结论 急性细菌性脑膜炎患儿外周血和脑脊液中CRP明显升高,可用于判断疾病发展的转归.     

Oxidative imbalance in child and adolescent patients with obsessive compulsive disorder

Various psychological, social, genetic and biochemical factors are thought to be involved in etiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). To the best of our knowledge there are no studies investigating the effects of free radicals in children and adolescents with OCD. This study evaluated total oxidant and antioxidant status, oxidative stress index, and arylesterase and paraoxonase activity in children and adolescents with OCD. The study included 28 patients diagnosed with OCD and 36 healthy children as an age- and sex-matched control group. Their serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured and the oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. Although serum TOS and OSI values in the OCD patients were significantly higher than those in the control group (p = 0.008, p < 0.001, respectively), TAS and paraxonase activity were significantly lower ( p < 0.001 for both). However, no statistically significant difference in arylesterase activity was found (p > 0.05). The increase in oxidative status and decrease in antioxidants in patients with OCD demonstrate that oxidative stress may have an important role in the pathophysiology of the disease. It has been suggested that drugs that contain antioxidants should be added to conventional pharmacotherapy during follow-up.     

Humoral immunological reactivity in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

In a group of 37 children with SSPE serum protein and cerebrospinal fluid electrophoresis was done (in 34 and 25 cases respectively) determining immunoglobulins in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid in all 37 cases. The obtained results demonstrated a lack of correlation between the changes observed in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid. The most frequent change in the serum was a rise in alpha 2 globulin level (85%) and reduced IgA level (58%), while in the cerebrospinal fluid a rise in gamma globulins (92% of cases) and IgG (100%) was observed most frequently. A comparison of these results with past history of measles, with the clinical course of SSPE and with the survival time of the children showed no correlations. Measles antibodies were determined in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid in 37 children, and the determinations, were repeated several times in the serum of all children and in the cerebrospinal fluid of 9 children. Measles antibodies were found in the serum in all children and in the cerebrospinal fluid in 21 children (57%). The highest titres of antibodies above 1:32 in the cerebrospinal fluid were demonstrated in children with measles at the age up to 2 years. The prognosis was worst in children with acute onset of the disease preceded frequently by cranial injury or infection, with a high serum antibody level and absence of antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid.     

The effects of carbamazepine, valproic acid and phenobarbital on the oxidative and antioxidative balance in epileptic children

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress has been related in a wide variety of ways with nervous tissue. We studied the effect of antiepileptic monotherapy on serum level of total antioxidant capacity, lipid hydroperoxide, total peroxide, oxidative stress index, and individual serum antioxidants such as albumin, bilirubin and uric acid. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 122 subjects including healthy controls, untreated epileptic patients and epileptic patients treated with valproic acid, carbamazepine or phenobarbital. Serum total antioxidant capacity was measured as an index of antioxidants, and total peroxide was measured as index of oxidative stress. The serum concentrations of uric acid, albumin, bilirubin and lipid hydroperoxide were monitored simultaneously. RESULTS: We found that serum total antioxidant capacity levels were significantly decreased in the untreated group compared with the controls. Serum total peroxide levels were markedly increased in the untreated and carbamazepine-treated groups compared to in the controls; and lipid hydroperoxide and oxidative stress index levels were significantly higher in the phenobarbital-treated group than in the controls. Uric acid concentrations were significantly lower in the valproic-acid-treated group than in the untreated group, and total bilirubin concentrations were higher in the untreated group than in the controls. CONCLUSION: Epileptic children exposed to oxidative stress and conventional antiepileptic drugs change the oxidative/antioxidative balance. The serum oxidant and antioxidant status of epileptic children with valproic acid monotherapy are better regulated compared with children with carbamazepine and phenobarbital monotherapy.     

Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone in children with viral meningitis

Urinary excretion rates of antidiuretic hormone were determined by radioimmunoassay in children with bacterial (6) and viral (11) meningitis, and in children with other febrile illnesses (7). These values were compared to normal data obtained from 50 healthy, normally hydrated children ranging in age from 1 week to 9 years. Plasma sodium concentrations were measured in the sick children; urine osmolality and creatinine concentrations were measured in all children. Upon admission, all children with bacterial meningitis and 64% of those with viral meningitis had urinary antidiuretic hormone excretion rates greater than 2 S.D. above values obtained from age-matched controls. Fifty-seven percent of children with other febrile illnesses had similarly elevated antidiuretic hormone values; however, only in the bacterial and viral meningitis groups were antidiuretic hormone excretion rates inappropriate because they occurred when serum sodium concentrations were found to be normal or low normal (i.e., 136 +/- 2 mEq/L and 137 +/- 1 mEq/L, respectively). The average serum sodium in the group with other febrile illnesses was higher (146 +/- 5 mEq/L; p less than 0.05) and could represent an appropriate stimulus for antidiuretic hormone release. In spite of high levels of antidiuretic hormone, most viral meningitis patients did not concentrate their urine, probably because all except 2 were younger than 2 months of age. We conclude that viral meningitis, like bacterial meningitis, frequently is associated with inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion; however, most children with viral meningitis may be protected from developing hyponatremia because of their inability to concentrate their urine.