[The value of granulocyte elastase in the early diagnosis of infantile meningitis].
Elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (E-alpha 1-PI) was evaluated in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in 176 patients between 1 month and 15 years old. They were divided in three groups: group 1 (n = 61) children without meningitis, group 2 (n = 69) non bacterial meningitis and group 3 (n = 46) bacterial meningitis. The CSF values of E-a 1-PI complex (P50: P2.5; P97.5) (micrograms/L) were (2.85: 0.1; 19.1) in group 1 (31.5: 0.88; 735) in group 2 and (247: 2.6; 10370) in group 3. Significant differences were found in it (p less than 0.001). We didn't find any differences between non bacterial meningitis group and bacterial meningitis group when the granulocytes count were below 100 X mm3. The blood values of E-a 1-PI complex (P50: P2.5; P97.5) (micrograms/L) were (1122: 337; 5005) in group 3, significantly greater (p less than 0.001) than in group 2 (346: 136; 1612). In CSF E-alpha 1-PI complex showed us a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 27.7% in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, while in blood stream, it was 85.3% and 85.4 respectively.
Iriondo Sanz
M
M
Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Infantil San Juan de Dios, Barcelona.
Alvarez Domínguez
L
L
Pou Fernández
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; C037741:alpha 1-antitrypsin-leukocyte elastase complex; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase
Utilidad de la elastasa granulocitaria en el diagnóstico precoz de las meningitis infantiles.