title: Cerebrospinal fluid lactate and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
abstract: The value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) activity in the rapid diagnosis of meningitis was investigated in three groups of patients--a 'no meningitis', an aseptic meningitis and a bacterial meningitis group. The sensitivity achieved in the detection of bacterial meningitis by CSF lactate values of 2.85 mmol/l (93.8%) and 3.9 mmol/l (89.6%) was greater than that reached by conventional chemical investigations using a CSF protein value of 1 g/l (81.5%) or a CSF glucose value of 2.2 mmol/l (68.8%) as the indicator. The sensitivity of an absolute CSF LD value of 40 U/l (86.3%) in the detection of bacterial meningitis was slightly lower than that of a CSF protein value of 1 g/l (87%) and better than the sensitivity of either a CSF/serum LD ratio of 0.1:1.0 (83.9%) or a CSF glucose level of 2.2 mmol/l (76.3%). As with conventional CSF chemistry, both investigations may give normal values in the presence of bacterial meningitis.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007773:Lactates / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase