title: [Haptoglobin in cerebrospinal fluid as a marker of infectious process in central nervous system].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haptoglobin is a transport protein and protects organism against iron loss and it should be involved in central nervous system infectious process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Simultaneous serum and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained of 39 pediatric patients, 14 suffering from viral meningoencephalitis and 25 from bacterial meningoencephalitis. Five control cases were examined too. Haptoglobin, IgG and albumin were quantified in both fluids by radial immunodiffusion. Haptoglobin cerebrospinal fluid/serum ratio, haptoglobin index and haptoglobin/IgG index were calculated. Local IgG intrathecal synthesis was determined by reibergram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Haptoglobin index was higher not statistically significant in viral meningoencephalitis in comparison with bacterial disease but both were statistically significant with respect to control group. Increased haptoglobin/IgG index were statistically significant in bacterial meningoencephalitis in relation with viral meningoencephalitis. There were no association between haptoglobin and polymorphonuclear cells count and globular sediment speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Haptoglobin should be considered a relevant marker of central nervous system infectious process.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Imnunología, Hospital Pediátrico San Miguel del Padrón, La Habana, Cuba. adorta@infomed.sld.cu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noris-García
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dorta-Contreras
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Escobar-Pérez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Hernández
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000150:complications; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology; D016870:Neisseriaceae Infections / Q000150:complications; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006242:Haptoglobins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G